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    Beginner
    3 min read 6 stepsJuly 8, 2026Verified July 2026

    How to Spot a Fake Charity Before You Donate

    Scammers impersonate real charities after disasters and during the holidays. Learn to verify before you give — especially online or by text.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Safety & Privacy
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    3 min read
    Steps
    6
    Topics covered
    charity
    scam
    donation
    fraud
    safety

    In this guide (6 steps):

    1. 1.Pause before giving to any charity that contacts you first
    2. 2.Look up the charity's real name and status
    3. 3.Never donate by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
    4. 4.Go directly to the charity's known website
    5. 5.Check for a real physical address and EIN
    6. 6.Report a suspected charity scam
    1

    Pause before giving to any charity that contacts you first

    ~19s
    Legitimate charities you already support may reach out, but be extra cautious of any brand-new appeal that finds you — through a text, a social media ad, or a phone call — especially right after a disaster is in the news. Scammers move fast to catch people while emotions are high.
    2

    Look up the charity's real name and status

    ~27s
    Go to give.org (BBB Wise Giving Alliance) or Charity Navigator at charitynavigator.org and search the exact charity name. Both sites show whether the organization is a verified, registered nonprofit and what percentage of donations goes to actual programs versus administrative costs.

    Quick Tip

    Scam charities often use names one word off from a famous one — like "American Red Cross Relief Fund" instead of the real "American Red Cross." Search the exact name you were given, not just what you remember.

    3

    Never donate by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency

    ~26s
    No legitimate charity asks for donations in the form of gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency — these payment methods cannot be reversed or traced, which is exactly why scammers request them. A credit card or check to a verified charity is always safer and reversible if something is wrong.

    Warning

    If someone pressures you to buy gift cards "for the charity" and read the codes over the phone, this is always a scam. Hang up right away.

    4

    Go directly to the charity's known website

    ~15s
    Instead of clicking a link in a text or email appeal, type the charity's website address directly into your browser, or search for it yourself, to make your donation. This avoids look-alike scam sites that copy a real charity's logo and design.
    5

    Check for a real physical address and EIN

    ~15s
    A legitimate US charity has a tax ID number (called an EIN) and is registered with the IRS. You can search any charity's EIN and tax filings for free at apps.irs.gov/app/eos (the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool).
    6

    Report a suspected charity scam

    ~18s
    If you believe you've encountered a fake charity, report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to your state's Attorney General office, which usually has a charity registration division. If you already gave money by gift card or wire, contact the sending company right away to ask about reversal — success is not guaranteed, but time matters.

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    Charity scams spike after every big hurricane, wildfire, or other disaster in the news. They also spike every year during the November-to-December giving season. Scammers set up fake charity names that sound almost the same as real, well-known ones. Then they push urgent appeals by text, social media ad, or phone call, asking you to donate right away. They often ask for gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency — payment methods a real charity would never ask for.

    The FTC and the BBB Wise Giving Alliance both offer free tools to check if a charity is real. These tools also show how much of your donation reaches the cause versus overhead costs. Taking two extra minutes to check before you give protects your money and makes sure it reaches people who need it.

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    scam
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    Official Resources

    FTC Consumer ProtectionCISA — Cybersecurity TipsAARP Fraud Watch Network

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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