Scams to know

Charity scam calls: how to check before you give

6 min read · Updated November 11, 2026

"Hi, I'm calling on behalf of the hurricane relief fund. Families lost everything this week, and we're asking neighbors like you to help. Can we count on $100 today?" Some charity calls are real. Some are scams. And some are real fundraisers where very little of your money reaches the cause.

How charity scams work

Charity scammers go where generosity is. Typical approaches (illustrative):

Disaster appeals: calls, texts and social media posts appear within hours of a hurricane, wildfire, flood or mass shooting, often with names invented that morning.
Sound-alike names: a name that's one word off from a famous charity, or swaps "Fund" for "Foundation", so it feels familiar when you hear it quickly on the phone.
Police, firefighter and veteran funds: appeals that tug at loyalty, sometimes claiming to be local when they aren't.
The fake pledge: "Thank you for your generous pledge last year. We're calling to collect it." You never pledged anything.
Prizes: a donation "enters you" in a sweepstakes. The FTC says promising sweepstakes winnings in exchange for a donation is illegal.
Crowdfunding: personal appeals on fundraising sites that you can't verify.

Scammers want payment that's fast and hard to reverse: cash, gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps or cryptocurrency. The FTC recommends paying by credit card or check instead, and calls credit card the safest way to donate.

Red flags

Pressure to give right now, on this call.
Vague answers about what the money will be used for, or where the charity is based.
A request for gift cards, wire transfers, crypto or cash, or an offer to send a courier.
Thanks for a donation or pledge you don't remember making.
Claims that your gift is tax-deductible when the group isn't listed with the IRS.
A local-looking number that turns out to be nowhere near you. On ShadyCall, every number page shows the original carrier and city of the exchange, though numbers can be ported or spoofed.

The safest way to give: hang up, research the charity, and donate directly through its own website, which you type in yourself. A real charity will still be glad to take your money tomorrow.

Questions to ask a caller

What is the charity's exact name, and what city and state is it in?
Are you a paid fundraiser? Who are you calling for?
How much of my donation goes to the program you're describing?
Can you send me information in writing before I decide?

A legitimate fundraiser will answer. A scammer will change the subject, push harder, or hang up.

How to check a charity

IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search: look up the exact name at apps.irs.gov/app/eos to see whether it's a registered tax-exempt organization and whether donations are tax-deductible.
Your state charity regulator: most states require charities, or the fundraisers working for them, to register before asking for donations. Find your state's office through the National Association of State Charity Officials at nasconet.org.
Charity evaluators: the BBB Wise Giving Alliance (give.org) reviews charities against accountability standards, and Charity Navigator and CharityWatch rate how charities operate and spend money.
A quick search: the FTC suggests searching the charity's name with words like "complaint", "review" or "scam".

Stopping charity calls

The National Do Not Call Registry doesn't cover calls asking for charitable donations, even when a paid fundraiser makes them. But you can ask the caller not to call you again on behalf of that charity, and under FTC rules the fundraiser must honor that request. Political calls follow different rules. See political calls and texts.

If you gave to a scam

Credit card: call your card issuer and dispute the charge.
Payment app, wire or bank: contact the company right away and report the fraud.
Gift cards: contact the card company using the number on the back.
Expect more calls. Your number may be passed around as a "donor". Be extra careful with follow-up appeals.

See what to do if you've been scammed for more.

Where to report

The FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Your state charity regulator or attorney general.
For disaster-related fraud, the FBI at ic3.gov.

Look up the number on ShadyCall to see whether others have flagged it under charity calls, and check the FTC and FCC complaints listed on its page.

Had a pushy or suspicious charity call? Report the number on ShadyCall and include the charity name they used. Sound-alike names are easier to spot when people share them.