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.
When it comes to the discussion of real versus fake charities, it can be argued that language is one of the most prevalent warning signs. For those that don't know, legitimate charities won't be pushy if you fail to have the money to donate up front. They won't guilt you into giving money that you don't have, either. If events like these happen to you, perhaps you'd want to work with another organization altogether. Names along the lines of Bob Jain will tell you the same.
Next, what if you donate to a charity and receive no receipt listing what you gave? You may think that the lack of a receipt is no big deal, but it's important to note that many legitimate charities offer receipts detailing the amounts of money that were given to them. To the donators, these can prove useful, not only as proof but for when tax refund season rolls around. If you aren't given a receipt, no one would fault you for being skeptical.
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.
When it comes to the discussion of real versus fake charities, it can be argued that language is one of the most prevalent warning signs. For those that don't know, legitimate charities won't be pushy if you fail to have the money to donate up front. They won't guilt you into giving money that you don't have, either. If events like these happen to you, perhaps you'd want to work with another organization altogether. Names along the lines of Bob Jain will tell you the same.
Next, what if you donate to a charity and receive no receipt listing what you gave? You may think that the lack of a receipt is no big deal, but it's important to note that many legitimate charities offer receipts detailing the amounts of money that were given to them. To the donators, these can prove useful, not only as proof but for when tax refund season rolls around. If you aren't given a receipt, no one would fault you for being skeptical.
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.