Charity Scams: How to Check a Charity Before You Give

Giving is one of the best things people do, and scammers know it. When a hurricane, wildfire or earthquake is in the news, or as the year-end giving season arrives (GivingTuesday falls on December 1, 2026), fake charities appear alongside real ones. The FTC’s advice for avoiding charity scams is simple: do a little research and plan your giving, so your money reaches people in need and not a scammer.

How do charity scams work?

Charity scammers want your money quickly, before you have time to check. The FTC describes the usual pattern:

• Someone contacts you by phone, text, email, social media or at your door, asking for a donation to a group that sounds familiar.
• They pressure you to give right away.
• They ask for unusual payment: cash, gift cards, cryptocurrency or a wire transfer.
• They dodge questions. Scammers often refuse to send information about the charity or explain how the money will be used.
• They invent a pledge. Some thank you for a donation you never made, hoping you’ll “complete” it.

After disasters, the FTC warns that scammers create fake charities that seem official, or impersonate well-known charities, hoping the familiar name draws your donation. Other tricks include names that sound a lot like real charities, vague and emotional claims with no specifics, and false promises that your gift is tax-deductible.

EXAMPLE — SCAM

Today 5:12 PM●●● ▮

Incoming call (305) 555-0156

Caller: Hi, I’m with the National Hurricane Families Relief Fund. Families lost everything this week and we need to get supplies out tonight.

Caller: The fastest way to help is a $200 gift card — just read me the numbers and we’ll put it to work right away. Can I count on you?

How do you check if a charity is real?

Before you give, the FTC suggests:

1. Search the name. Look up the charity’s name plus “complaint,” “review,” “rating” or “scam.”
2. Use charity research groups. The FTC points to organizations such as BBB Wise Giving Alliance and CharityWatch, which report on how charities spend donations. Find out how much of your gift goes directly to the cause.
3. Check with your state. Most states require a charity or its fundraiser to register before asking for donations. The FTC says you can find your state charity regulator through the National Association of State Charity Officials.
4. Check tax status. The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tells you whether a donation to an organization would be tax-deductible.
5. Look for a track record. After a disaster, the FTC says to check that the group is an established organization, not one that showed up overnight with no real way to help.

Is it safe to give by phone or text?

It can be, but slow down first. The FTC’s advice for phone appeals: take your time, don’t trust caller ID (scammers can make any name or number appear), and ask callers to send you information by mail.

For text donations, the FTC says to check the charity’s own website first to confirm you have the right number. Before clicking any link to donate online, make sure you know who will receive the money.

Whatever the channel, the FTC says paying by credit card or check is safer. Keep a record of your donations and review your statements to make sure you were only charged what you agreed to, and that you weren’t signed up for recurring donations you didn’t want.

What about crowdfunding and disaster appeals?

Crowdfunding can be a way to help a specific family or person, but it works differently from giving to a charity. The FTC notes:

• The money goes to the campaign organizer, who might not be closely connected to the person being helped. The organizer controls how the money is spent.
• Platforms have different rules about fees and when organizers get the money.
• Donations to individuals are not tax-deductible.

The safest way to give through crowdfunding is to support campaigns organized by people you know and trust. If a friend shared a fundraiser on social media, the FTC suggests contacting your friend separately to ask what they know before you give. Don’t assume a post is legitimate just because a friend shared it.

Where do you report a fake charity?

• The FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Share the name of the organization or fundraiser, the phone number and what the fundraiser said.
• Your state charity regulator, which you can find through the National Association of State Charity Officials, or your state attorney general. See our list of state attorneys general.

If you already gave by gift card or wire, contact the company you used right away. Our first-hour checklist after a scam and our guide to gift card scams explain what to do. Scam charities often call, so our guide to phone scams is worth a read, and our 10 checks to tell if a website is legit help before you donate online.