When disaster hits, many of us want to help. Unfortunately, scammers see those moments of generosity as an opportunity, too.
Fake charities and impostors may use hurricanes, floods, wildfires, or earthquakes to convince you to donate — only to pocket the money themselves.
One common tactic is using a celebrity's name, image, or likeness to make a fake fundraising effort appear legitimate. A scammer might create a social media post, website, or donation request that appears to come from a well-known celebrity or public figure supporting disaster relief. Don't assume a familiar face means the fundraiser is legitimate.
Before you give, take a moment to make sure your generosity is going where it’s needed. According to the Federal Trade Commission, follow these steps before donating:
Do your homework. Research the charity and the cause independently. A social media post or recommendation from someone you know doesn’t automatically make a donation request legitimate.
Check the charity. Resources such as CharityWatch and Give.org can help you determine whether an organization is established and how donations are used. In Illinois, you can validate charities through the Illinois Attorney General's web page by visiting illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/Consumer-Protection/Charities/.
Verify donation requests. If you're asked to donate by text, visit the charity’s official website to confirm the request and phone number.
Avoid unusual payment methods. Be cautious if someone insists on cash, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Those payment methods can be difficult to recover once sent.
A few extra minutes of research can help ensure your generosity helps disaster victims — not scammers.
Learn more about donating safely at ftc.gov/charity. To report a charity imposter or suspected scam, visit ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For more information on other types of scams, visit cefcu.com/security.
