A stranger is asking me to donate to a charity. How do I know it is real?
You will learn how to spot a fake charity request and give safely.
Many fake charities pop up after a sad news story or disaster.
A stranger who pushes you to give right now may be a scam.
Real charities are happy to wait. They never rush you.
Be careful if they want gift cards or a wire. That is a warning sign.
You can always say no and give later, on your own.
- 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 stranger asked me to donate to a charity called [name]. Here is the message: [paste it]. What warning signs of a fake charity should I look for? Please keep it simple.
Paste it into ChatGPT, then change the words in brackets to fit you. It opens in a new tab, so you will not lose this page.
A real charity will gladly wait while you check. If you give, use the charity's own official site, never a stranger's link.