For many people, there's no greater feeling in the world than giving money to charity for the purpose of making a difference. Regardless of what the cause is focused on, it's important to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Not every charity is as it seems, however, as there have been multiple scams that people have fallen for. If you'd like to know how to tell legitimate charities from the scams in question, here is some advice that Robert Jain can provide.
If you'd like to differentiate between real and fake charities, start by assessing their language. Have you ever contacted that seemed unusually pushy? Maybe you weren't able to offer money at a particular moment, which only made them more insistent that you do so. This is just one example, but this should be seen as a warning sign that the charity isn't exactly legitimate. This is just one of the many warning signs that names like Bob Jain can tell you about.
The absence of a receipt for the money that you give should be seen as a warning sign, too. Keep in mind that respectable charities across the board, no matter how small the amounts they're given, provide receipts to the donators. These have different purposes, including potential write-offs when tax refund season rolls around. The more reputable a charity is, the more common receipts are, which should help you tell them apart from fake charities that much better.
Lastly, if you are contacted by a charity that has only been in existence for a few days, be wary about moving forward with them. Believe it or not, it's common for "charities" to be created from out of nowhere, especially in the midst of disasters that gain major publicity. These are the organizations that serve to only benefit themselves. Long-standing organizations are more reputable, so place your focus on them instead.
Now that you know how to tell legitimate charities from those that aren't as legitimate, you should know how to protect yourself. One of the ways to do this is by doing research on a charity before donating to them. If you're unable to find substantial information online, there's a possibility that the cause isn't legitimate. You should also be mindful of the payment you use. Cash tends to work best; never give your credit or debit card information to someone you don't know. Steps like these will protect you when donating money to charities in the future.
If you'd like to differentiate between real and fake charities, start by assessing their language. Have you ever contacted that seemed unusually pushy? Maybe you weren't able to offer money at a particular moment, which only made them more insistent that you do so. This is just one example, but this should be seen as a warning sign that the charity isn't exactly legitimate. This is just one of the many warning signs that names like Bob Jain can tell you about.
The absence of a receipt for the money that you give should be seen as a warning sign, too. Keep in mind that respectable charities across the board, no matter how small the amounts they're given, provide receipts to the donators. These have different purposes, including potential write-offs when tax refund season rolls around. The more reputable a charity is, the more common receipts are, which should help you tell them apart from fake charities that much better.
Lastly, if you are contacted by a charity that has only been in existence for a few days, be wary about moving forward with them. Believe it or not, it's common for "charities" to be created from out of nowhere, especially in the midst of disasters that gain major publicity. These are the organizations that serve to only benefit themselves. Long-standing organizations are more reputable, so place your focus on them instead.
Now that you know how to tell legitimate charities from those that aren't as legitimate, you should know how to protect yourself. One of the ways to do this is by doing research on a charity before donating to them. If you're unable to find substantial information online, there's a possibility that the cause isn't legitimate. You should also be mindful of the payment you use. Cash tends to work best; never give your credit or debit card information to someone you don't know. Steps like these will protect you when donating money to charities in the future.
About the Author:
For more information about finance in general, please contact Bobby Jain.. Free reprint available from: Robert Jain: How To Tell Legitimate Charities From Scams.
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