This holiday season, many people will turn to charities to give back. The last thing they want to do is give money to scammers instead of a cause they truly support. According to the FBI’s website, charity fraud rises during the holidays, when people choose to make end-of-year tax deductible gifts.
“Seasonal charity scams can pose greater difficulties in monitoring because of its widespread reach, limited duration and, when done over the Internet, minimal oversight,” cites the FBI site.
Therefore, it‘s important to be careful and verify the group to which you’re giving to make sure it isn’t actually a charity scam. Let’s take a look at what people should look out for when they’re giving. See common scammer tactics and reputable tools to make sure your money reaches a trusted organization.
What’s Behind a Charity Scam?
The people behind a charity scam, as with other types of fraud, usually start by disguising what they’re doing. Some impersonate well-known charities, while others make up a name of their own. Often, they follow the news and create scams around natural disasters, such as floods, hurricanes or wildfires. But, they are also known to prey upon supporters of evergreen causes.
Phishing emails are often part of the charity scam. They attempt to trick the recipient into handing over their banking information for the purpose of making a donation. The trick might lead them to a page designed to harvest their payment card credentials. Some attackers take this a step further by sending out spear-phishing emails that specifically target users based on w ..
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