Holiday charity scams surge when generosity is high and time is short. One infamous case involved a telefunding outfit that blasted out 1.3 billion deceptive donation calls and pulled in over $110 million before being shut down by the FTC and state partners. (Federal Trade Commission)

Meanwhile, researchers tracking abuse on major social platforms identified 832 scam accounts running fake donation schemes across Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and Telegram—proof that polished posts can still be traps. (arXiv)

For a business, a single misstep can cost money and reputation. Use the quick checks below to keep your goodwill—and your good name—safe.

How to Vet a Fundraiser Before You Donate Safely

A legitimate campaign should clearly answer:

• Who’s organizing it and their connection to the recipient
• How funds will be used (with timing and milestones)
• Who controls withdrawals and how money reaches the beneficiary
• Visible support from close contacts (family, employer, community org)

If any of this is missing, ask questions first. On crowdfunding sites, compare the answers to the platform’s own trust guidelines (e.g., GoFundMe’s verification criteria). (GoFundMe Support)

Red Flags That Signal Holiday Charity Scams

Pause and investigate if you notice:

• Payment demands via gift cards, wire transfers, or crypto (legitimate charities typically accept credit cards or checks). (Consumer Advice)
• No HTTPS on the donation page (look for the “https” and lock icon).
• Urgency pressure (“donate right now”) and emotion-forward stories with little detail.
• Impersonation (copied stories, look‑alike names, stolen photos).

If you see multiple signs, don’t donate and report the fundraiser.

How to Vet Fundraisers (and Avoid Holiday Charity Scams)

Even established names deserve a quick review:

• Look for transparent financials and program descriptions.
• Check third‑party evaluators like BBB Wise Giving Alliance (Give.org) and Charity Navigator. (Give.org)
• Search the charity’s name with “complaint,” “scam,” or “fraud.”

A lack of detail—or a pattern of poor reviews—should trigger caution.

Why This Matters for Your Business

Your public giving becomes part of your brand. Holiday charity scams can become a PR risk and undermine client trust. Train your team to spot fake fundraisers and fraud tactics in day-to-day operations. For more cybersecurity guidance, see https://www.entech.net/cybersecurity/.

A Simple Company Playbook

1) Set a donation policy. Define approved causes, payment methods, and who signs off at each dollar level.
2) Educate your team. Share this checklist and remind staff not to donate under the company name without a quick review.
3) Use trusted channels. Navigate directly to a charity’s site—never donate via links in unsolicited emails or social posts. (Consumer Advice)
4) Verify publicly endorsed campaigns. Confirm beneficiary control and timeline updates. (GoFundMe Support)
5) Monitor impact. After donating, look for reports that funds reached the intended purpose.

Q&A Quick Answers for Busy Leaders

What’s the safest way to donate online during the holidays?
Use a credit card on a verified charity’s HTTPS site, accessed by typing the URL yourself. Avoid paying by gift cards, wire, or crypto, and check the charity on Give.org or Charity Navigator before you give. (Consumer Advice)

How can we validate a crowdfunding campaign?
Confirm the organizer’s relationship to the recipient, who withdraws funds, how money will be used, and visible support from close contacts. If unclear—or if updates stall—don’t donate.

Keep Your Holidays Generous – Not Risky

These checks give you a strong starting point. True protection comes from a broader IT and security strategy that helps your team spot all social‑engineering tricks – fake fundraisers, phishing emails, and bogus payment requests included. Entech is known for reliable, friendly IT support and proactive guidance for practice administrators, office leaders and owners.

We’re in IT together to Make IT Work for you.

Talk to a real Entech expert – no pressure. Schedule a FREE IT assessment »

Recommended Sources for additional information:

1. Telefunding case numbers (1.3B calls; $110M raised deceptively).
   Sources:

• FTC press release: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2021/03/ftc-38-states-dc-act-shut-down-massive-charity-fraud-telefunding-operation
• FTC case library (Associated Community Services): https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/162-3208-associated-community-services-inc

2. Scale of social‑media donation scams (832 scam accounts).
   Sources:

• ArXiv paper “Pirates of Charity: Exploring Donation-based Abuses in Social Media Platforms”: https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.15621
• OpenReview summary: https://openreview.net/forum?id=uddtlRWcNW

3. Payment red flags (gift cards, wire, crypto) and safe methods.
   Source:

• FTC Consumer Alert: https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2022/12/give-back-plan-season-avoid-charity-scams

4. Crowdfunding verification criteria.
   Source:

• GoFundMe Help Center (trust indicators): https://support.gofundme.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015913668-Determining-if-a-fundraiser-is-trustworthy