Beware of fake charities and scams during the season of giving
PORTLAND (WGME) -- For most of us, the holidays are full of giving and goodwill, but this season is also prime for scammers who look to take advantage of people's generous spirit.
The last few weeks of the year are a busy time for charitable donations.
While there are countless real organizations and non-profits out there that are deserving of your dollars, there's plenty more that have been set up with the sole purpose of sealing your hard earned money and even your personal information along with it.
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"It's wonderful that people want to give, obviously many of us do and that's great," Jane Margesson with AARP Maine said. "But please be careful, because the scammers are so good at making a charity sound very legitimate. They create fake websites that look real, but if you look carefully you can usually see there's a slight spelling error or something a little bit out of whack with it."
How do you spot a real charity from a fake?
STOP & VERIFY
The experts say the first thing to do is stop and verify. Scammers frequently use names that sound like well-known charities to confuse people.
Before donating, do a quick search online to make sure the organization is legit. You can also search the charity's name with the help of organizations like the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator and CharityWatch.
The IRS’s Tax Exempt Organization Search can also tell you if your donation would be tax deductible.
DON'T BE PRESSURED
Scammers have a lot of tactics they use to try and trick you into handing over money.
If someone calls you out of the blue and tries pushing you to make an immediate payment, that's a big red flag. Legitimate charities are happy to get a donation at any time.
Other tactics include masking their caller ID to make it look like a local number, thanking you for a past donation that you never made and refusing to tell you how your donation will be used.
BE CAREFUL HOW YOU PAY
If someone wants donations in cash, by gift card or by wiring money, don’t do it. That’s how scammers ask you to pay.
To be safer, pay by credit card. It offers an extra level of security and allows you to dispute the charge if it turns out to be fake.
It’s also good practice to keep a record of all donations and review your statements closely to make sure you’re only charged the amount you agreed to donate, and that you’re not signed up to make a recurring donation.
DON'T CLICK LINKS
While scammers are on the hunt for your money, they're also looking for ways to get access to your personal data.
Like with many scams nowadays, fraudsters will use fake links through email and text to "phish" out your information. Never click links or open attachments from senders you don't know.
Some charity scammers will also ask you to provide personal or financial information such as your Social Security Number to make a donation. That can lead to identity theft.
If you spot a fake charity, you can report it to the FTC HERE or send an email to the I-Team at TIPS@WGME.COM