A stranger is asking me to donate to a charity. How do I know it is real?
Learn how to check an unexpected charity request.
A disaster appeal can be real or fake. A stranger may copy a charity name and use a moving story.
Pressure is a reason to pause. A calm request is not proof that the charity or link is real.
Find and check the charity through sources outside the message before you give.
Try this
- Do not give money on the spot to a stranger.
- Write down the charity name. Do not click their link yet.
- Look up the charity yourself in your web browser.
- Give only through the charity's own official website.
- Do not pay with gift cards or a wire transfer.
- Ask family if you are unsure about the cause.
A message you can copy
Give me a short checklist for checking a charity request. Do not certify a charity or ask me to paste private messages.
Paste the message into ChatGPT, then fill in any blanks before you send it. ChatGPT opens in a new tab. Opening it does not send the message.
Buddy says
Check the exact name, its work, and where the money goes. Give through a route you verified yourself.