Charity Scams
Scams Involving the Southern California Wildfires
Watch out for scammers trying to take advantage of the Southern California wildfires. They’ll create fake charities claiming to help the victims impacted by the wildfires. They’ll try to trick you into giving them money.
Always research any charity before you donate to make sure they’re real. You can also donate to well-known charities, such as the American Red Cross. We give our thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by the wildfires.
Fraudsters prey on people’s willingness to help others through donations. You may be contacted by someone on behalf of a charity asking for money towards a cause you are passionate about or for a widescale event where money is needed, such as victims impacted by hurricanes. Despite your good intentions, these fake charities have nothing but bad one – they disappear with your donation, and it’s never put towards the people that need it.
Protecting Yourself
- If they pressure you for your donation quickly, it’s likely a scam. For example, they may claim you already agreed to donate.
- If they ask for your donation in cash, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, refuse to do so.
- Find out more information about the charity itself. Visit Charity Navigator to research it and make sure your donation will truly go towards the cause.
- You can also ask the charity itself, but if they avoid or refuse to answer your questions, cut off all communication with them.
If you Become a Victim
Take the following actions right away:
- Notify your bank or credit union where the donation was withdrawn.
- File a complaint with the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
- File a report with your local police department.
Check out this FTC video below for additional tips on verifying charities before you donate: