Safe donation tips and scams to watch out for with the BBB

(WXYZ) — Giving Tuesday is the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving. If you are interested in donating to charity, beware of scammers.

I asked the Better Business Bureau for advice on how to avoid fraud when donating to a nonprofit organization.

“If someone comes across a social media post encouraging people to donate, what’s the red flag?” I asked the BBB.

“Well, first of all, unfortunately, social media is almost a red flag right now because there is just so much misinformation on social media. I’m not saying everything is wrong, but as soon as you see something compelling on social media, take it offline. Write down the full name and then do your own research,” said Nakia Mills, the BBB’s marketing director.

Mills tells me that if you have an organization in mind, go directly to the charity’s website. Do not click on a link posted on social media or sent to your phone or email address.

Next, confirm the exact name of the charity so you don’t end up on a scam site due to a typo. Also, resist the pressure to give in right away.

Make sure you use a credit card to make donations, as debit cards and checks are not protected from fraud like credit cards. Asking to pay with a gift card or cryptocurrency is also a warning sign.

Finally, make sure you only donate on secure websites – ones with an “S” after “HTTP” in the web address.

“Are scammers a big problem when it comes to Tuesday specifically?” I asked.
Well, any time. It’s very similar to what happens after a natural disaster. Giving Tuesday – it’s one of those days where we have tons of people who want to literally give their money away. So this is the best time for scammers to dive in and think about what is my best case scenario that I can suggest today knowing that people want to donate money and maybe do a little less research today because today is the day of giving . Mills said.

Below are Better Business Bureau tips you can use when donating to charity on Giving Tuesday. Some of these tips include information from Give.org. This includes:

• Determine the exact name of the charity. Because there are so many charities, mistaken identity is a common problem.
• Resist pressure to give on the spot, whether from a telemarketer or a door-to-door lawyer.
• Be wary of heartbreaking appeals.
• Press for details. For example, if the charity says it helps the homeless, ask how and where it works.
• Check websites for basics. They should have the mission, program and finances in place.
• Don’t assume that every organization is tax-exempt. You can check your tax status on the IRS website.

You can view an alphabetical list of charities on the Give.org website