The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) have partnered to provide the following reminders for donors ahead of Giving Tuesday on Dec. 3 to help ensure their money goes to legitimate causes they want to support, instead of scammers:
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Do research before donating. Real charities want donations for honest purposes but do not need them immediately. Take time to learn about the organization before giving.
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Ask for more details on solicited donations. Legitimate charitable organizations can provide their name, address, and phone number, and will explain how much of each donation will be used for the charitable purpose vs. other costs.
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Do not open links or attachments in unsolicited charity emails, texts, or social media posts. Even if they appear real, these may be fraudulent or contain harmful viruses.
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Avoid imposter scammers. Before giving to a well-known charity or nonprofit, verify the organization’s real website and beware of replicas created by scammers. Check the web address for spelling errors and other discrepancies that could signify a scam.
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Avoid using unsecure payment methods like cash, cryptocurrency, payment apps, or money transfers. It is nearly impossible to reverse these transactions in cases of fraud. Use a credit card or write a check directly to the organization.
To learn more about a charitable organization, use resources like CharityNavigator.org or Give.org, or review DFI’s Donor Resources webpage to reduce unwanted solicitations and research charitable organizations. For more information and consumer protection resources or to file a complaint, visit DATCP’s Consumer Protection webpage.
