Charity Scams

In this scheme, donations are solicited for fake charities—often after major natural disasters. Scammers succeed by tugging at your heart strings and taking advantage of your desire to help those in need.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF:

Never make donations over the phone, no matter how nicely the caller may ask or how tempting the reward. No charity will run a phone-only fundraiser, so ask the caller to send you more information. If it’s a legitimate organization, this won’t be a problem.