P.people in distress near and far, children and the elderly. But also animals and ecosystems: there are many causes for which it is worth opening your wallet and making a contribution. We are often informed of the existence of a fundraiser from the web. And, among the thousands of appeals and fundraising activities, we decide to pay online a sum of money in favor of a certain cause that affects us. Among all these appeals, however, there are also real scams. Which leverage people’s emotions, convincing them to pay money.
To the aid of those who, animated by good intentions, risk being fooled, the Trustpilot’s global review platform has developed a series of practical tips to avoid being deceived by sending money to non-serious organizations and finding themselves scammed.
Charity scams are widespread
Trustpilot’s guidelines are not aimed at the unprepared or novice with digital devices: charity scams are many and varied and can mislead anyone. It is not always easy to recognize them. Just think that even giants like Apple, Google and Microsoft have fallen into the trap of a fake fundraiser. They’ve put millions of dollars into the Black Lives Matter Foundationwhich, however, was in no way affiliated with the famous movement Black Lives Matter.
So, the premise is only one: attention is needed on everyone’s part. And it’s never wrong to ask yourself a few more questions to be sure where your money is going. But what questions to ask?
How to find out if you are facing an online scam
In many countries non-profit organizations are also required to register with local tax authorities. In any case, each entity of this type should be known in detail there mission (when it is extremely vague or absent, it is useful to turn on an alarm bell) e the initiatives it supports (the website should contain detailed information on the causes supported and the projects or initiatives funded).
Not only that: we should also know how they spend their money. In particular, on this last point it is important to remember that most organizations publish detailed financial reports that take into account the expenses made.
Scams on crowdfunding sites
It is more and more common to come across causes contained in crowdfunding sites. Many times these are requests for help from private individuals for cases that sometimes come to the attention of many. From the expenses for a family’s funeral to those for the treatment of patients with rare diseases. But to make sure your money supports a real cause, you need to ask yourself a few questions, as Trustpilot reports.
“Do I personally know anyone affiliated with this fundraiser?”. But also “Has the organizer specified exactly how the funds will be used?” And “Does the fundraising goal make sense?”. In fact, many times we can find ourselves faced with a fundraising goal that is totally dissociated from the final purpose. If the aim, for example, is to raise funds to send a group of children on a trip, a goal of 100,000 euros is clearly exaggerated.
There is one last question: “Is the money donated to a larger organization in turn?”. If so, consider donating directly to that organization.
Payment methods? Only if they are safe and authorized
Particular attention should also be given to payment methods. Most charities and non-profit organizations have a safe way to donate funds directly on your websitethrough credit card or an authorized payment system such as PayPal.
Additionally, Trustpilot reports, ‘if you receive a call from a telemarketer asking to make a donation to an organization It is important never to give credit card information or payment information over the phone. If you are interested in the cause for which you are raising funds, it is best to ask to be referred to a website or other verifiable source where you will be able to elaborate on some of the questions listed above before donating. ”
Finally, Trustpilot recommends use reviews to “further validate legitimacy and share your experience”through the page of Trustpilot profile of the organization you want to trust with your money.
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