When you want to give back to your community or help financially support organizations you hold near and dear to your heart, the last thing you expect is to be a victim of identity theft because of your generosity. Unfortunately, if you are a victim of a charity scam, your money and identity could be at risk. If you are worried about becoming a victim of charity scams, this blog explores what you should know about these fraudulent organizations. Additionally, the following blog explores how a California identity theft victim lawyer can help you reclaim your identity if you believe you have been taken advantage of.
What Are Charity Scams?
Charity scams are fraudulent schemes that trick others into donating money and relinquishing personal information for what they believe to be a good cause when, in actuality, these organizations are not fake or are not legitimate. Generally, these scams become more prevalent following natural or humanitarian disasters and during the holiday season.
These fraudulent organizations will often pose as legitimate charities in the hope that donors do not question them or use names very similar to those of real charities. For example, someone may claim they are a representative of the ASPCA despite having no affiliation, while others may collect donations under the name “American Club for Boys and Girls,” which many may confuse as the legitimate organization “Boys and Girls Club of America.”
How Do These Schemes Collect Personal Information?
Scammers, in addition to stealing money you thought was going to a good cause, will also take your personal and financial information.
This information includes your full name, phone number, address, and email, which, when used in conjunction with your banking or credit card details, can be used to commit identity theft.
Often, individuals pretending to be from an organization will ask for your banking information or credit card details as a means of payment. However, if this is the only donation method, this is a sign that you may be interacting with a scam charity.
What Can I Do to Protect Myself?
If you want to donate but are worried about being scammed by a fraudulent organization, taking the time to verify the charity is critical. If speaking to a representative over the phone, ask for more details like the full name, web address, and email so you can verify the information. Additionally, if the individual pressures you to donate immediately, it could be a sign that it is a scam.
If donating over the internet, be sure to do additional research before offering personal or financial information. Using a reputable search engine, look up the charity and verify that the website you are on matches the one you find through the search engine. Be sure to inspect the page for red flags like formatting or spelling errors.
Do you have reason to believe your identity was compromised during a charity scam? If so, the team at Loker Law, APC is here to help. We are dedicated to fighting for those who are taken advantage of by others, so we will do everything in our power to assist you through these matters. Connect with us today to learn how we can fight for you.
