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Do you get asked to donate to your local first responders, like firefighters or police officers? Or see appeals asking you to help veterans? Many charities raise funds to help these groups, so before you respond, make sure you’re donating to one that will use your gift wisely. Learn about the rules charities have to follow and how to avoid donating to a fake charity.

Spot and Avoid Fake Charities

Many legitimate charities support local firefighters and police, active duty military, veterans, or their families. But other charities lie about what they do with donations or how much they spend on programs. And some are outright scams.

To avoid donating to a fake charity:

  • Pay attention to the charity’s name. Do an online search of the charity’s name with the word “fraud” and “scam.” Scammers use names that sound like well-known charities, or that include words like “veteran,” “foundation,” “operation,” “hero,” “wounded,” “disabled,” or “homeless.” This infographic has examples of sham charities that used names that sounded legitimate, but lied to donors.
  • Pay attention to how the charity or fundraiser asks you to pay. Don’t donate to anyone who insists you can only pay by gift card, wiring money, or cryptocurrency. That’s how scammers tell you to pay.
    • It’s safest to donate by credit card or check — after you’ve done some research on the charity.
    • If you’re donating online, make sure the webpage where you enter your payment information has “https” in the web address. That means your information is encrypted and transmitted securely. But encryption alone doesn’t mean the site is legit. Scammers know how to encrypt, too.
  • Don’t trust your caller ID. Scammers can make any name or number show up on your caller ID. They often make their calls look like they’re from your local area code or an organization you know. But that call could be coming from anywhere.
  • Don’t trust someone who rushes you into donating. One tactic scammers use is pressuring you to donate immediately. They don’t want you to have time to do any research or even think about what you’re agreeing to do. A legitimate charity will welcome your donation at any time.

Phone Calls Asking You To Donate

Many charities that help first responders, veterans, active duty military, or their families pay fundraisers to call donors or potential donors. Fundraising calls are allowed even if your number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. If you want fundraisers to stop calling, ask them to put you on the charity’s do not call list. If you get a second call from that charity, report it to the FTC. When a charity’s fundraiser calls to ask you for a donation, they have to follow some rules:

  • They can only call during specific times. They can’t call you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
  • They have to disclose their name and purpose. They have to tell you the name of the charity and if they’re calling to seek a donation.
  • They can’t deceive you or lie about
    • the fundraiser’s connection to the charity
    • the mission or purpose of the charity
    • whether a donation is tax deductible
    • how a donation will be used, or how much of the donation actually goes to the charity’s programs
    • the charity’s affiliation with the government
  • They can’t use a robocall or prerecorded message to reach you unless you’re a member of the charity or a prior donor — and even then they must offer you a way to opt out of future calls.
  • Their caller ID has to be truthful. The caller ID on your phone has to show the name of the charity or fundraiser, along with a number that you can call to ask to be placed on the charity’s do not call list.

If a fundraiser breaks any of these rules, that might be a sign of their dishonesty. Consider finding another way to donate to the cause you care about.

Four Questions To Ask a Fundraiser

Ask these questions whenever someone says they’re raising funds for a charity that helps first responders, active duty military, veterans, or their families.

  1. What is the charity’s exact name, web address, and mailing address? Some dishonest telemarketers use names that sound like large well-known charities to confuse you. Confirm this information before you donate.
  2. How much of my donation will go directly to the program I want to help? The caller is most likely a fundraiser, not the charity itself. After the fundraiser gives you their answer, check it out: call the organization directly and ask them, or see if the information is on the charity’s website. If you want to make sure your donation is tax deductible, check out the organization in the IRS’s Tax Exempt Organization Search Tool
  3. Are you raising money for a charity or a Political Action Committee (PAC)? Not every call seeking a donation is from a charity. Some calls might sound like a call from a charity but are from a PAC, where donations are not tax deductible.
  4. Are you registered to fundraise in my state? Is the charity also registered in my state? Most states require charities and their fundraisers to register with the state regulator. Check to see if a fundraiser and the charity they’re fundraising on behalf of are registered with your state’s charity regulator.

Mail Asking You To Donate

Organizations that help veterans, first responders, and military families often use direct mail to create awareness and fundraise. Getting a charitable solicitation in the mail gives you time to research the organization.

When you get a donation request in the mail:

  • Look for details about what happens with your donation. Find out how much of your donation goes directly to charitable purposes. Check if the letter has details about the organization’s programs, past successes, and plans to use funds in the future. If the letter doesn’t specify that, be suspicious.
  • Research the charity before you give. Search the charity’s name with words like “complaint,” “fraud,” or “scam.” Some organizations like BBB Wise Giving Alliance and Charity Watch have curated lists of well-rated charities.
  • Know that if you respond, you’ll get more mail. Charities often share donor lists. If you want to stop getting solicitations, or get fewer, write to individual charities and ask them to delete your name from their mailing lists — even if you donate. It may take some work to get each charity to do this. Also, some donation response forms offer you the option to opt out of sharing your personal information. Make sure that box is checked if this is important to you.

Social Media Posts Asking You To Donate

Many organizations also solicit donations online and on social media. To help you give safely:

  • Don’t assume the donation request is legitimate because a friend posted it. Contact your friend privately or offline to ask them about the post they shared. Do they know the organization or the person who first posted the request on social media?
  • Research the charity. Just because a friend recommended it doesn’t guarantee the charity will spend your money wisely. Do your own research.
  • Check where the link to donate goes. Does the link take you to the charity’s donation site or a fundraising platform? If it goes to a fundraising platform, how long will it take for your donation to get to the charity? Does the platform charge fees? If the link goes to an individual who promises to collect all the donations and then send them on to the charity, there’s no way for you to be sure that the money makes it to the charity. It’s faster and safer to donate directly to the charity’s website.

Read Donating Through Crowdfunding and Fundraising Platforms for more advice on what to look for if you’re considering donating to a crowdfunding campaign or online charitable fundraising platform.

How To Research Charities

Before you give money to someone who says they’re raising funds for a charity that helps first responders, active duty military, veterans, or their families:

  • Search online. Search the charity’s name with words like “complaint,” “fraud,” or “scam.” Search for the phone number displayed in your caller ID. See what others have to say.
  • Check out reports and ratings. Look at what percentage of donations are used for charitable programs. BBB Wise Giving Alliance and CharityWatch typically have already-vetted lists of highly rated charities that help veterans or first responders.
  • See if the charity is registered with your state charity regulator. Most states require charities to register before soliciting. Find your state regulator at nasconet.org.
  • Find out if it’s a non-profit organization or a Political Action Committee (PAC). If you’re donating to a charitable organization recognized by the IRS, your donation is tax deductible. Use the IRS’s Tax Exempt Organization Search Tool to check. Donations to a PAC are not tax-deductible.
  • Check out donation requests with your local police or fire department. If a fundraiser claims they’re collecting donations on behalf of your local police or fire department, verify that directly with them. If the claim isn’t true, report the solicitation to your local law enforcement officials. If you want to support your local police or firefighters, ask them directly for suggestions on how to donate locally.

Read Before Giving to a Charity for more.

Report Charity Scams

Report charity scams to

Give as much information as you can in your report, including the name of the fundraiser who contacted you, the name, phone number, website, and address of the charity, and any other details the fundraiser gave about the charity.

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