It is common for scammers to take advantage of people looking for answers to health problems or those willing to donate to a worthy cause. This online fraud takes the form of perpetrators fraudulently soliciting donations for non-existent charities. Charity scammers use legitimate charities and falsely pose as charity officials. These scammers can bilk money to the tune of billions of dollars.
In certain circumstances, scammers will prey on a disaster that has recently occurred. They may also claim to be collecting for a cause that affects you, such as helping terminally ill children. These medical scams claim to be reliable treatments for conditions with legitimate alternative medicines. Scammers market these treatments using fake testimonies.
How to protect yourself:
- Don’t let anyone rush you into making a donation.
- Some scammers try to trick you into paying them by thanking you for a donation that you never made.
- They may make vague and sentimental claims but give no specifics about how your donation will be used.
- Guaranteeing sweepstakes winnings in exchange for a donation is not only a scam; it’s illegal.
- Some scammers use names that sound a lot like the names of real charities. Double-check the address or online URL before you donate.