Donating Safely and Avoiding Scams | Consumer Advice The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site. The site is secure. The ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Donating Safely and Avoiding Scams Vea esta página en español Share this page When you decide to support a cause you care about, you want your donation to count. Doing some research and planning your giving can help ensure your donations get where they’ll do good. Here are tips to help you plan your donation– and avoid scams. Do some research online Looking for a charity to support? Search for a cause you care about – like “hurricane relief” or “homeless kids” – and phrases like “best charity” or “highly rated charity.” When you consider giving to a specific charity, search its name plus “complaint,” “review,” “rating,” or “scam.” Use these organizations to help you research charities. Donating by cryptocurrency? Watch for scammers who want to take your donation. Learn more at ftc.gov/cryptocurrency Be careful how you pay If someone wants donations in cash, by gift card, or by wiring money, don’t do it. That’s how scammers ask you to pay. To be safer, pay by credit card or check. It’s a good practice to keep a record of all donations. And review your statements closely to make sure you’re only charged the amount you agreed to donate – and that you’re not signed up to make a recurring donation. Before clicking on a link to donate online, make sure you know who is receiving your donation. Read Donating Through Crowdfunding, Social Media, and Fundraising Platforms for more information. Keep scammers’ tricks in mind Don’t let anyone rush you into making a donation. That’s something scammers do. Some scammers try to trick you into paying them by thanking you for a donation that you never made. Scammers can change caller ID to make a call look like it’s from a local area code. Some scammers use names that sound a lot like the names of real charities. This is one reason it pays to do some research before giving. Scammers make lots of vague and sentimental claims but give no specifics about how your donation will be used. Bogus organizations may claim that your donation is tax-deductible when it is not. Guaranteeing sweepstakes winnings in exchange for a donation is not only a scam, it’s illegal. If you see any red flags, or if you’re not sure about how a charity will use your donation, consider giving to a different charity. There are many worthy organizations who will use your donation wisely. Report scams to ReportFraud.ftc.gov . Find your state charity regulator at nasconet.org and report to them, too. Share any information you have – like the name of the organization or fundraiser, phone number, and what the fundraiser said. Organizations that can help you research charities These organizations offer reports and ratings about how charitable organizations spend donations and how they conduct business: BBB Wise Giving Alliance CharityWatch The IRS’s Tax Exempt Organization Search tells you if your donation would be tax deductible. You can find your state charity regulator at nasconet.org. Most states require the charity or its fundraiser to register to ask for donations. Related Content For consumers Before Giving to Charity Donating Through Crowdfunding, Social Media, and Fundraising Platforms Donating Safely and Avoiding Scams Which Veterans Groups Would You Donate To Infographic What To Know Before Donating To Help First Responders, Active Duty Military, Veterans, and Their Families Tips for business Online Charitable Giving Portals Tips for Retailers: How to Review Charity Requests Videos Stop Veteran Charity Scams (30 second PSA) On the FTC Consumer website On YouTube Stop Veteran Charity Scams On the FTC Consumer website On YouTube Make Your Donations Count On the FTC Consumer website On YouTube Charity Scams Playlist on YouTube Related Consumer Alerts Got a text about expiring reward points? Look closer April 7, 2026 How to make your World Cup experience scam free March 17, 2026 How to avoid government grant scams that offer free money for personal expenses March 5, 2026 How to handle unexpected calls that claim your money is at risk January 30, 2026 Traveling to the Olympics in Italy? Here’s how to avoid a scam January 9, 2026 Business and government impersonators go after older adults’ life savings August 7, 2025 Looking for health insurance? Make sure that’s what you’re getting August 7, 2025 How to spot and avoid task scams August 14, 2025 Spot scams while getting out of debt July 28, 2025 Job scammers are looking to hire you July 7, 2025 Return to top