Privacy Tip #238 – Coronavirus Charity Scams
By Linn Foster Freedman on May 7, 2020
Posted in Coronavirus, Privacy Tips
I think that people in general are decent and good. There are always some bad apples, but during crises most people want to help others. During the coronavirus pandemic, many people are doing everything they can to help others, including assisting neighbors, family members, friends and health care workers. Charitable organizations have stepped up to assist those in need during the crisis as well. Generous people donate to charitable organizations to assist in their efforts. This is where the bad apples come in.
Bad apples know that most people are decent and good. They know people want to help others, and that people are generous and kind. And the bad apples take advantage of the goodness of others. During a crisis, like the one we are in now, bad apples spend every day trying to figure out how to do just that.
Coronavirus charity scams are such a problem that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a scam alert this week warning individuals to be careful about their charitable donations during this time and to confirm that they are giving to real organizations and not scammers.
According to the FTC Alert:
“No one wants their Coronavirus donation to go to a scammer, so before you give, do some research.
Search online for the charity’s name and the words “scam” or “fraud.”
Review ratings of the charity by these organizations.
Check the charity’s registration status with your local charity regulator. Are they registered to take donations in your state?
“Here are other things you can do to make sure a scammer is not taking advantage of your generosity:
Donate using a credit card. It’s the safest way to donate. Never donate by giving out gift card numbers or using a wire transfer. If someone asks you to donate that way, you can be sure it’s a scam.
Double check the name of the organization. Many fake charities try to trick you by using names similar to those of well-known organizations, but with one word different or a misspelled.
Ask lots of questions. What’s the charity’s website, address, and mission? How much of my donation will go to the program I want to help? How many people does the charity help, and how? If helping your community is important to you, ask how the charity spends money in your area. If you get vague answers, find another way to help.
Confirm that your donation will be tax deductible, if that’s important to you. Use the IRS’s Tax Exempt Organization Search to check. Know that donations to individuals are not tax deductible.
Don’t assume a donation request on social media is legitimate just because a friend liked it or shared it. Do your own research. Call your friends or contact them offline to ask them about the post they shared.
“Visit ftc.gov/charity for more tips on donating wisely. If you see a charity scam, report it at ftc.gov/complaint. Your report helps stop scammers and alert others about them.”
Sound guidance from the FTC to help ensure that our donations go to the causes we care about and we are really helping others.
Tags: charity, coronavirus, covid-19, FTC, scam
Linn Foster Freedman
Linn Freedman practices in data privacy and security law, cybersecurity, and complex litigation. She is a member of the Business Litigation Group and the Financial Services Cyber-Compliance Team, and chair’s the firm’s Data Privacy and Security Team. Linn focuses her practice on…
Linn Freedman practices in data privacy and security law, cybersecurity, and complex litigation. She is a member of the Business Litigation Group and the Financial Services Cyber-Compliance Team, and chair’s the firm’s Data Privacy and Security Team. Linn focuses her practice on compliance with all state and federal privacy and security laws and regulations. She counsels a range of public and private clients from industries such as construction, education, health care, insurance, manufacturing, real estate, utilities and critical infrastructure, marine and charitable organizations, on state and federal data privacy and security investigations, as well as emergency data breach response and mitigation. Linn is an Adjunct Professor of the Practice of Cybersecurity at Brown University and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Roger Williams University School of Law. Prior to joining the firm, Linn served as assistant attorney general and deputy chief of the Civil Division of the Attorney General’s Office for the State of Rhode Island. She earned her J.D. from Loyola University School of Law and her B.A., with honors, in American Studies from Newcomb College of Tulane University. She is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Read her full rc.com bio here.
Read more about Linn Foster Freedman
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