As the holiday season begins and year-end approaches, many Wisconsinites plan to donate to charities, nonprofits, and other organizations. Giving Tuesday, December 3, 2024, will inspire significant charitable contributions. To help donors avoid scams and ensure their gifts reach legitimate causes, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) have partnered to share essential reminders.
“December is the busiest month for charitable giving. Many people generously support causes they care about most,” said DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski. “Unfortunately, scammers often impersonate real charities or create fake ones that fail to fulfill their mission. This deceit harms donors and legitimate organizations alike.”
Tips to Safeguard Your Donations
- Research Charities Thoroughly: Genuine charities appreciate your support and won’t pressure you to donate immediately. If a solicitor demands quick action, proceed with caution.
- Request Detailed Information: Legitimate organizations can provide their name, address, and phone number. They also explain how donations are allocated between charitable purposes and operational costs.
- Avoid Suspicious Links or Attachments: Be wary of unsolicited emails, texts, or social media messages asking for donations. These may be scams or contain harmful malware.
- Beware of Impersonators: Before donating to well-known charities, confirm you’re using their official website. Scammers create convincing replicas with slight errors in web addresses.
- Use Secure Payment Methods: Avoid cash, cryptocurrency, payment apps, or wire transfers, as these methods are hard to reverse in fraud cases. Opt for a credit card or check written directly to the organization.
“Scammers may not only trick you into paying them directly but also test stolen financial information by making fraudulent charges in a charity’s name,” warned DFI Secretary Cheryll Olson-Collins. “Regularly review your bank and credit card statements. If you notice unauthorized charges from unfamiliar charities, contact your financial institution immediately to secure your account.”
Verify Charities Before Donating
Use trusted resources like CharityNavigator.org or Give.org to research organizations. Visit DFI’s Donor Resources webpage at dfi.wi.gov for more tools to minimize unwanted solicitations and confirm the legitimacy of charitable groups.
To verify a charity or fundraiser is registered with DFI, search the Wisconsin Registrant Database using their “How to Research a Wisconsin Charitable Organization” guide. You can also call (608) 267-1711 or email DFICharitableOrgs@dfi.wisconsin.gov for assistance. Protect your generosity by ensuring your donations make a real impact.
