Fake charity scams before Giving Tuesday: how to check a charity and give safely

What's happened

The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's are when many of us give the most, and this year Giving Tuesday falls on December 1, 2026. Scammers time their fake appeals for the same weeks, using names that sound like real charities, emotional stories and urgent deadlines.

On October 26, 2026, the FTC warned that scammers are impersonating reputable charities, including calls claiming you've won a charity-sponsored sweepstakes because you donated before. "The moment someone tells you to pay to claim your prize, you know you're dealing with a scam," it said. In June, it warned about fake animal charities using stolen or AI-generated photos of pets needing homes.

Few victims report charity fraud. The FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report logged 662 charity scam complaints with $7.9 million lost, but the money that never reaches real causes is hard to count.

Who's affected

Anyone who gives, and the real charities that lose out. Scammers target people who've donated before, and they move fast after disasters, when people want to help right away.

Warning signs

• Pressure to give right now, before you've had time to check.
• A thank-you for a donation you don't remember making.
• A name that's almost, but not quite, a well-known charity.
• Vague appeals with no detail on how the money will be used.
• A request to pay by cash, gift card, wire transfer, crypto or payment app.
• A promise of sweepstakes winnings in return for a donation. The FTC says that's not only a scam, it's illegal.

How to check a charity

1. Look it up with the IRS. The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search shows whether an organization is registered as tax-exempt and eligible to receive tax-deductible donations.
2. Check your state's charity regulator. Most states require charities and their fundraisers to register before asking for money. Find your state's office through the National Association of State Charity Officials.
3. Read independent ratings. Charity Navigator, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and CharityWatch report on how charities raise and spend money.
4. Search the name. Add words like "complaint," "review" or "scam," and skip the paid ads at the top, since impostors buy them too.
5. Go to the charity yourself. Type the web address you know, or use a phone number from its official site, rather than a link or number in a message.

Disaster appeals and crowdfunding

After a hurricane, wildfire or flood, fake appeals appear within hours on social media and by text. Give to established organizations with a track record in disaster relief, and check that a new "relief fund" is registered before you give. For crowdfunding pages, confirm who will actually receive the money. If you get an unexpected text asking for a donation, the FTC says don't use the link or number in it.

What it means in dollars: a worked example

This is an illustration, not a real case.

Ruth gets a call saying she's won $25,000 in a sweepstakes run by a children's charity she supports. She just needs to pay a $499 "processing fee" with gift cards. If she pays, the money is gone, and her number will likely be passed to more scammers.

Instead, Ruth hangs up and gives $100 online to the real charity, by credit card, after checking it on the IRS search tool. If the website turned out to be fake, she could dispute the charge with her card issuer.

Paying safely

The FTC says a credit card or check is the safest way to donate. Keep receipts, check your statements to make sure you weren't signed up for monthly gifts you didn't agree to, and be very careful with anyone who will only take crypto, a wire, a payment app or gift cards. If a telemarketer calls, ask how much of your gift goes to the charity's programs, then check with the charity directly. Callers are often paid fundraisers.

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FAQs

Is every donation tax-deductible?

No. Only gifts to qualifying organizations are, and fake charities may claim otherwise. Check the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search, and keep a receipt.

Are text-to-give appeals safe?

Text donations you start yourself, using a number from the charity's official site, are fine. Don't respond to unexpected texts asking for money or tap links in them.

How do I report a fake charity?

Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state charity regulator. Include the name, phone number and what the fundraiser said.

Sources: FTC: spot scammers impersonating well-known charities and sweepstakes (October 26, 2026), FTC: pet scams and fake animal charities (June 24, 2026), FTC: how to donate wisely and avoid charity scams, FTC: before giving to a charity, FBI IC3 2025 Internet Crime Report, IRS: Tax Exempt Organization Search