The holidays are a time to be of good cheer. However, it is also the season when scammers of all types come out of the woodwork to take advantage of the spirit of giving that many of us have. And while we are not trying to be Grinches, it is in the best interest of you and your potential donors to know how to avoid grifters. Below are four tips for spotting a fake charity, so that you and your potential donors can avoid getting victimized this Holiday season.

• Research charities before you donate: Research the charity you are considering donating to before you make a commitment. In this day and age, it is quite easy to find information online about anyone or anything. This can be a double edged sword. However, when it comes to making sure that your donation counts it is a good thing. Do an Internet search and ask the people raising funds as many questions about their organization as you can think of. Expect the same of donors who are considering supporting your cause.
• Verify all phone numbers and contact info for charities: If you need to contact the charity you are considering supporting then it should be easy. Contact the charity by phone and check their official website to see if the number you have is legitimate.
• Avoid charities that are vague about their mission: Legitimate charitable organizations should be transparent and forthcoming about whom they are, their mission statement, and how and where your donation will be spent. In fact, they should be eager to give you this information in detail. Fraudulent charities will not be. Avoid the latter.
• Do not give personal information out to those who you do not distrust: Scammers will often try to obtain as much personal information about you as they can. They may even send out phishing emails to steal your passwords, credit card information, etc.
  

Common Holiday Scams:

Delivery scams: This scam involves scammers sending out phishing emails disguised as UPS, FedEx or U.S. Postal Service notifications of incoming or missed deliveries. Their links lead to pages where they ask for personal information.

Travel scams: Nearly 2 in 5 Americans plan to travel during the holidays in 2020. Spoof booking sites offer travel deals that look too good to be true.

Letters from Santa scams: With this type of scam fraudulent fundraisers will scavenge personal information about you or, worse, your kids or grandkids, using the legend of old St. Nick. 

Our discount fundraising cards are a safe and effective way to raise money for your cause and to reach out to local vendors and to the community. You can use them for elementary school fundraising and for a variety of other causes. Stay safe and be careful this holiday season.  

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