The holiday season is a time to gather with family and friends to share memories and exchange gifts. It’s also when cybercriminals step up their efforts to steal away good intentions including your credit card number and personal information.
To help protect you from identity theft during the holidays, we’ve gathered some tips on how to safely shop and give to the charities that are most important to you.
Charity Scams
Many charitable donations are given in December. Scammers know this so they create fake charities and start telemarketing efforts to trick you into placing your donation into the wrong hands. The advice below from the Federal Trade Commission and AARP will help you make donations wisely after verifying sources.
1. Social media scams
Some common scams on social media sites during the holidays can be a promotion or contest which offers a gift for completing an online survey. There might be a story of someone in need who has fallen on hard times which is especially difficult during this time of year. Be wary of clicking on any links as these are imposter scams intended to steal your personal information.
There are other ways to give back during the holidays such as donating directly to a trusted local non-profit organization that helps those in need.
2. Research the charity’s website
The first step is to locate information regarding the charity’s mission and programs. This should be easy to find on the charity’s website under headings such as ’about us’ or ’learn more’. If you can’t find detailed information about how the charity will use your donation and where the charity is located within the United States, it’s best to move on and find another organization.
In some states, a fundraiser and charity are required to register with the state regulator. You can check your state's charity regulator for this information.
3. Check out charity watchdog groups
A charity watchdog group is a useful way to determine if a charity is legitimate. Watchdog websites such as www.CharityNavigator.org and www.CharityWatch.org are reliable sources that take a deep dive into researching many charities to identify any red flags and how efficiently they will use your donation. These watchdog groups, which allows you to search by topic, lists the top-rated charities and monitors for potential fraud.
4. Donate via the charity's official website
To avoid scams, donate directly through a charity’s official website (most legitimate charities use a .org domain). Be cautious of in-person or unsolicited requests; always verify fundraisers by contacting the organization using the contact information listed on its website. If a representative won’t provide verification, it may be a scam. When donating by check, make it payable to the charity, not an individual. For credit card donations, review your statement to confirm the charge is accurate.
5. Delivery scams
Scammers often send fake emails or texts that appear to be from USPS, FedEx, or UPS, claiming a delivery issue such as an incorrect address, unpaid postage, or delayed shipment. These messages create urgency to trick you into clicking a link, paying a fee, or sharing personal information. The links may lead to malware-infected websites. Watch for misspellings, poor grammar, or unexpected delivery alerts. Never click links from unsolicited messages, and make sure to verify tracking numbers directly on the carrier’s official website.
