Dirty Dozen 2020: Fake Charities

     People want to help each other. This is the fundamental feeling that criminals want to exploit whenever there is a disaster. The COVID-19 pandemic is no different. Scam artists will set up fake charities, often with names very similar to legitimate ones, to accept money from unwitting Taxpayers telling them it will be a tax write off. The rise of these schemes this year has led Fake Charities to earn a place on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Dirty Dozen list.

    One sign that you might be dealing with a fake charity is if you receive an unexpected text, phone call, or social media message. These links will lead Taxpayers to fake websites designed to trick visitors into giving up their personal information. Some might even claim that they are working with the IRS. If the name of this organization is similar to, but not the same, as one that is nationally known, you should be wary. This is often a clue that they are fake. A true organization with non-profit status can provide detailed information when asked.

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