Tis the Season to be......Careful: Charities

December is when retailers and charities push to appeal to consumer’s holiday spirit. With just a click of a button you can take advantage of discounts and free shipping as well as help those in need by donating to your favorite charity. Unfortunately, December is also when scammers set up shop hoping to soak up a little holiday cheer.

This month, we’ll provide online shopping safety tips to reduce your chances of getting duped by an unscrupulous grinch.

Part 1: Charities - #GivingTuesday and beyond

Giving Tuesday started in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past seven years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. With the help of Social Media, over $400,000,000 was raised in 2018 in the US alone.

And sadly, with popularity comes bad actors. According to nonprofit rating site, Charity Navigator, roughly 40% of all charitable donation solicitations are made in the last few weeks of the year. Scams pop up in the form of donation solicitations via email, social media and text.

Before you give, make sure the charity is legit by checking sites such as Charity Navigator and the BBB’s Give.org

If you receive a request that is suspect, try giving directly to a channel you know is correct such as the organization’s website.If you think something is a scam report it to the organization and to the FTC Charity Fraud Department