Beware of Charity Scams Following Recent Hurricanes
Oct 18, 2024
Scammers commonly set up fake charities to take advantage of people’s altruism and generosity following any natural disaster like what we have recently experienced with Hurricane Milton and Helene. Make sure your generous gifts are really going where you intended and protect your personal information with the tips below.
IRS Tax-Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) Tool
Before making a donation to any organization, it is a good idea to use the IRS Tax-Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) Tool to verify the legitimacy of the charity.
Other Tips
Look out for impersonators. Some scammers will go to great length to make their fake charities sound or look like well-known reputable charities to confuse people. Be on the lookout for email addresses and websites with typos or similar but incorrect names of charities.
Pay attention to how the donation is requested. Be very suspicious of any charity that asks you to make donations by directly wiring money or collecting gift cards numbers from you. Legitimate charities will most often collect donations via check or credit cards, but it still a good idea to check the legitimacy of the charity via the TEOS tool first.
Don’t share too much information. Scammers are just as interested in stealing your personal information as they are in stealing your cash. Be wary of any charity that is asking for your sensitive information. A legitimate charity will never ask you for your social security number or bank account information.
Don’t give in to pressure. The most common tactic of any scammer is that they will use a variety of tactics to try and make you feel pressure or urgency to rush you into falling for their scheme. If anyone requesting a donation makes you feel uncomfortable or pressured HANG UP! A legitimate charity will be happy to receive your donation at any time and should not pressure you in any way.
Reporting Suspected Fraudulent Organizations
If you encounter an organization that you suspect is fraudulently requesting donations, you can report them to the Department of Justice here: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud
Local Charities
If you are unsure which local charity would most benefit from your donation, the Manatee Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County are two great places to start your research.
Manatee Community Foundation: https://manateecf.org/nonprofits/community-resources/
Community Foundation of Sarasota County: https://www.cfsarasota.org/donors/support-our-community
The Giving Partner is a research tool hosted by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to help you learn about and find local charities that allign with your values: https://www.thegivingpartner.org/