On Giving Tuesday, be sure to check out any new charity before you donate

Helping others is a wonderful goal. However, before you give to a new organization, make sure you’re not donating to a scam.

Scammers have polished their schemes that trick people into donating. They’ll often even use names that sound a lot like other charities you’ve heard of to get your money.

Here are tips from the Federal Trade Commission on how to make sure your money is going to support the cause you care about:

• Don’t be rushed or pressured into giving, especially over the phone. If it’s a request to donate on social media, take the time to make sure the person who shared it with you knows the organization or person fundraising.
• Research the charity before you give. Search the name plus “complaint,” “review,” “rating,” or “scam.” Organizations such as the Better Business Bureau's (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Watch, or Candid also let you research charities.

• Don’t trust your caller ID. Technology makes it easy for scammers to fake caller ID information. Calls can look like they come from your local area code, or from a specific organization, even if they don’t. Actually, the caller could be anywhere in the world.
• Check out the charity’s website. Does it give you details about the programs you want to support or how it uses donations? How much of your donation will go directly to support the programs you care about? If you can’t find detailed information about a charity’s mission and programs, be suspicious.
• Pay attention to how you pay. If a charity asks you to pay with cryptocurrency, by wiring money through Western Union or MoneyGram, with a payment app, or with a gift card, it’s likely a scam. Donating by credit card or check is safer.

Thank you for your interest in helping others.