• Solicited by Email? Find Out Who Is Soliciting.
• Be Careful When Giving Through Social Media or Other Fundraising Sites. Before giving through social media or fundraising sites, research the identity of the organizer of the fundraising efforts and ask the same questions you would of a charity.
• Check Before Giving. Donate to charities you are familiar with and carefully review information about the charity before you give.
• Ask How Your Donation Will Be Used. Find out how the charity plans to use your donation, including the services and individuals your donation will support.
• Look Into Newly Formed Organizations Carefully. While most of these organizations are well-intentioned, and some may provide innovative forms of assistance, some may not have the experience or infrastructure to follow through on their promises, and some may turn out to be scams.
• Exercise Caution Before You Text A Contribution. Check the charity’s website or call the charity to confirm it has authorized contributions to be made via text message.
• Don't Give Cash. Give directly to the charity either by check made payable to the organization or through the charity's website.
• Be Careful About Personal Information. Be cautious before giving credit card or personal information over the phone, by text message, or via the internet.
Residents who suspect an organization is misrepresenting its work, or that a fundraising or charitable scam is taking place, can file a complaint with the Charities Bureau, or call 212-416-8401.
For more information on avoiding charity scams and how to better determine if a charity is legitimate, click here.
