There are many legitimate organizations that are trying to raise money for those in need. Unfortunately, local and world events and certain times of the year lead to an increase in donation requests from scammers trying to dupe people into a charity scam. Here are 10 red flags to look for when you are considering donating to a charity.
Red flags
The charity is unregistered.
Do a basic search through Revenue Canada to verify the status of the charity.
Pushy and aggressive sales tactics.
You should never feel pressured or uncomfortable. A legitimate organization will respect your decision if you choose not to donate.
Unable to provide details about the charity.
You should be able to access their information with ease (address, phone number, mission statement, charity registration number, etc). The Government of Canada has more information about getting information about a charity available online.
Playing on your emotions.
Be wary of pleas that seem to exploit a recent disaster. If you keep your emotions at bay and focus on the facts you might notice something that doesnât seem right.
Bad grammar or an unofficial-looking website.
A legitimate charity will have gone through due processes to ensure any written materials are professional.
Requesting cash only.
Cash is not traceable and cannot be cancelled. Paying by credit card or a cheque offer you more protection.
Similar name to a respected or popular charity.
Phony charities will sometimes use names that resemble respected charities. If you are ever unsure, call the charity directly.
You are offered a courier to collect your money.
This high-pressure tactic is sometimes used in charity scams.
Calls or invoices that thank you for a pledge you donât remember making.
Some unscrupulous solicitors use this strategy to get your money.
Strange phone numbers or email addresses.
Phone numbers like 888-888-8887 might indicate the caller is trying to hide their number.
While scams exist, donât allow scammers to deter you if you want to donate to a charity. There are many legitimate charities that need support. Just remember to do your research and confirm the authenticity of the charity first.
If you think you may have been scammed, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or call 1â888â495â8501.
About Consumer Protection BC
We are responsible for regulating specific industries and certain consumer transactions in British Columbia. If your concern is captured under the laws we enforce, we will use the tools at our disposal to assist you. If weâŻcanâtâŻhelp you directly, we will be happy to provideâŻyou with as much informationâŻasâŻpossible. Depending on your concern, another organization may be the ones to speak to; other times, court or legal assistance may be the best option. Explore our website atâŻwww.consumerprotectionbc.ca.
ADDITIONAL READING:
Watch out for charity scams
Donât be a victim of an online fundraising scam
Hang up on unwanted scam calls
Good article! I have issues with Covenant House Vancouver charity. Although they ate a bona-fide charity which I like to support, I do not appreciate the barrage of requests and merchandise I receive all year long from them. Is there any way to stop this, I wonder? I send them a cheque every December but don’t want the cards, calenders, pens, desperate pleas for money tgat come in the mail every single month if not more often than that!
Hi Jo-Lue, thank you for your question. Have you requested to be removed from the mailing list? That might be a good place to start. I would suggest contacting them and trying to resolve this with them directly. Best of luck!
Thanks for that suggestion, Amanda. I enjoy reading your posts. Keep up the good work!
Hi Jo-Lue! Happy to help. Thank you for your kind words! You made my day đ
II , too , felt that there was no use in giving a donation when I rec’d requests almost monthly. I wrote to Covenant House and many others , stating I would support them only if I did not receive another solicitation. Covenant House is one that has never sent me anything again . I always write Thank You for not sending me mail on my cheque.
I give to Covenant House at Christmas, and I’ve told them that is all I give to them, so ask not to be sent mailings for other times of the year. They have honoured that. I think they do a difficult and honourable job.
Hi Joan, thanks for your comment. I’m happy you’ve found a charity that you trust – that’s great to hear.
Thanks for providing such valuable informations, such scams are everyday headlines and people should be aware about this, this was a nice initiative taken by you.
Thanks & regards
I just had two young girls come to the door for a charity supporting immunotherapy for cancer treatment. I donât doubt they were genuine charity collectors but as soon as they said the minimum they accept as a donation is $20 they blew the deal. Is this the way door to door collectors work now saying a minimum amount?
Hi Matt, thanks for reaching out to us with your question. I can’t say for sure about what each charity’s internal policy is for minimum donation amounts. However, you may be interested in following up by contacting the charity directly for clarity on that! I hope this is helpful.
Glad you mentioned about strange phone numbers.Even tho I never answer 1-800 # of any kind I have noticed several times of late the 1-888 # .
Amanda … how does one report a registered Non Profit for misappropriation of grant monies? Essentially fraud???
Hi Jan, if you believe that the non-profit organization has committed fraud, you can report it to the local police or RCMP. The RCMP website has more information about this and the link is here. The page also suggests reporting it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by calling 1-888-495-8501.
Any time a caller goes straight into their spiel without asking for you by name, They have no idea who they are calling and start making demands. It is a scam.