As relief efforts ramp up for people affected by recent disasters, scammers are also stepping in, posing as charities and fundraising organizers to steal donati
As relief efforts ramp up for people affected by recent disasters, scammers are also stepping in, posing as charities and fundraising organizers to steal donations meant for those in need.
The Better Business Bureau says fake charities and fraudulent fundraising campaigns are trying to take millions of dollars each year from people who believe they are helping someone in need.
BBB, a nonprofit itself, says scammers are using social media, crowdfunding sites, and text messages, pretending to be charities to take people’s money.
BBB’s Cameron Nakashima said what BBB is seeing locally mirrors federal warnings nationwide.
Over the past two years, nearly $4 million in charity and fundraising fraud attempts have been reported to BBB.
The FBI puts annual reported losses closer to $96 million.
In Washington, BBB says many people have reported through its Scam Tracker that they lost hundreds of dollars to charity scams.
BBB warned that the true scale of the problem is likely larger because many victims never realize their donation failed to reach the intended recipient.
One key warning sign, BBB said, is assuming a familiar platform means a fundraiser is legitimate.
BBB says scammers can use trusted platforms, including sites such as GoFundMe and social media, and can also create unauthorized campaigns impersonating legitimate charities to make fraudulent fundraisers look credible.
BBB said red flags often surface only after extra research into the website or person behind the fundraiser, including whether the organizer actually has a connection to the individual, family or cause they claim to support.
Before donating, BBB recommends three steps:
- First, verify the fundraiser. BBB advises searching the name of the organization or organizer and looking for an official website, a BBB Business or Charity Profile, or other independent information.
- Second, follow the money. BBB recommends reading the campaign carefully to find out who collects and controls the funds and how much of a donation will actually reach the people who need it.
- Third, report suspected fraud. BBB recommends reporting questionable fundraisers to the platform where they appear, such as social media or a crowdfunding site, and also reporting to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and BBB Scam Tracker.
- BBB said more free information on giving safely is available at GIVE.org and BBB.org.
