Charity scams are on the rise, so here are tips to avoid being tricked

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Financial Institutions, or DFI, wants to help you avoid charity scams this holiday season.

It’s the season of giving, and you want to be sure that who you’re giving to is who they say they are. Robert Rutkowski, Deputy Superintendent of DFI, says that imposter scams are pretending to be various charities to take advantage of generous people.

“Given the fact that charity fraud has gone up 47% since 2024, it shows you that there’s a very real risk if you’re not careful that your money won’t go to the charity at all; it will get stolen. So, the vigilance is really on your part,” Rutkowski said. “You want to give your money. You want to make sure that the people you want to give your money to get those funds. So, it’s important just to take that extra step and make sure you’re giving to a legitimate entity.”

In addition to that 47% increase in charity fraud, a new holiday and shopping scam report from AARP says 89% of U.S. adults claim to have been targeted by at least one scam attempting to take their money. Rutkowski offers tips on what to look out for when being a possible target of these impostors.

“… the entity tries to create a sense of urgency to donate right now, and it might be an urgent need, but if they’re trying to convince you that it’s urgent, then it’s almost certainly a scam. Also, look for strange payment methods. If you can pay in gift cards or you’re encouraged to pay in gift cards, don’t do that. There’s no legitimate charity that asks for payment in gift cards,” Rutkowski said.

The Department of Commerce also recommends using trusted resources such as the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, CharityWatch, the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search, or the Office of the Ohio Attorney General to confirm a charity’s legitimacy and tax-exempt status.