• Look up a charity’s report and ratings on sites like the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and CharityWatch, Charity Navigator or GuideStar.
• Be careful how you pay. If someone wants donations in cash, by gift card or by wiring money, don’t do it. Pay by credit card or check.
• Beware of names that may look or sound like well-known charities. Just because a group has a “sympathetic name” doesn’t mean it’s legitimate, said the FTC.
• Search for the charity name online. Often others will report scams online.
• Ask directly how much of a donation will go to the programs that you or the client desire to support.
Businesses may also find themselves approached to make charitable contributions, but should take care to avoid associating themselves with questionable campaigns.
The FTC recommends that businesses research charitable requests before agreeing to assist or participate in a campaign by doing the following:
• Make it a policy to request basic information from anyone making a fundraising request, particularly about the charity and the fundraiser.
• Search online for the charity’s name, including keywords like “complaint,” “review,” “rating” and “scam.”
• Look up a charity’s report and ratings on sites like the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and CharityWatch, Charity Navigator or GuideStar
In 2019, the FTC said it is placing special emphasis on the need for good cybersecurity and data security measures among non-profit and charitable organizations and has made the following recommendations to non-profits:
• Set up automatic software updates.
• Secure files with offline backups.
• Require passwords for all devices.
• Use multifactor identification like a PIN or a key.
• Encrypt all devices.
Scams can be reported to the FCT at http://FTC.gov/complaint
International Charity Fraud Awareness Week, which runs from Oct. 21 to Oct. 25, is a coordinated campaign to help consumers and charities avoid fraud.