Consumer Alert
Charity scams for veterans tug at heart strings and grab for wallets
Image
Want to help charities that support servicemembers and veterans? Around Veterans Day, charity scammers seek to take advantage of your generosity. They contact you about fake veteran and military causes, tugging at your heart strings — and grabbing for your wallet. A little research will help you spot these charity scams and make sure your donations count.
Charity scammers lie about who they’re affiliated with and how your money will impact the program you want to help. Do some research to find veteran charities who use your donations wisely and avoid scams:
- Check the name of the charity and its ratings. Search the charity’s name online with words like “complaint” and “fraud” and “scam.” Check the charity’s reports and ratings to see how they spend donations. If you see bad reviews that concern you, find another organization.
- Find out who’s behind a crowdfunding request or social media donation link — before giving. Scammers use stolen photos and other people’s stories to raise money for themselves. Find out who’s organizing the campaign since that’s who gets the money donated. They’re expected to give it to the intended recipient. The safest way to give through crowdfunding or social media is to only donate to people you know and trust.
- Pay with safer payment methods. Scammers ask you to donate in ways that make it hard to get your money back — by gift card or wire transfer, or by cryptocurrency. The safest way to donate is by credit card, which gives you some protection if something goes wrong.
Learn more at ftc.gov/charity. Report scams to FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your state charity regulator.
Topics
Scams
We hear all the time to report but need to know the WHAT IRS doesn’t always refer to scam . Form instructions even if you are donating or another exempt organization, like Jane R and Henry Wealthy Memoral Fund. may be private but that doesn’t mean individual has no information to know purpose IRS key search is Abusive will link to a very long Listed Transactions . Recognized Abusive and Listed Transactions
Scams Abusive Charity Scams are some of the largest and banks and institutions that have a long history of what is “self dealing “ And I attempted to report a scam to the FTC,SEC,FDIC ,Attorney General, and IRS who has form to mail or fax . Because of disclosure rules I may never know if my report is even investigated .
I was advised I will a lawyer . Report is not represented. It’s just report . Now I know why this list has thousands of regulation violations. FTC I had a better report with BBB who documented call with case and reply escalated.
Yes this organization on Facebook was selling veteran jackets for all sorts of services and Vietnam I ordered one and a hat they took my credit card information and then try to charge $119 I couldn't stop them but I did call the credit card company put a stop on it they try to put it through PayPal I don't understand and I had to get a new credit card two days later I close the account. They keep sending me emails to go to the cart and finish my order. I emailed them and told him quit using the Veterans for a scam it's turning my stomach. No response now
I never give to any charity without looking them up on Charity Navigator. It gives lots of info about charities.
I will like to know if that you can give me a list of all these scam for veteran charities so I will know who they are? It's good to have that list so this way I can warn many others who are not aware.
Hi ftc.gov owner, Thanks for the well-written and informative post!