Charity?
Sadly, many scammers will capitalize on the goodwill that flourishes this time of year by asking you to make a donation to a charity that does not actually exist. Charity scams involve scammers collecting money by pretending to work for a legitimate cause or charity, or a fictitious one they have created. Often scammers will exploit a recent natural disaster or crisis that has been in the news. They may also play on your emotions by claiming to collect for a cause that will secure your sympathy, for example to help sick children. These scams divert much-needed donations away from legitimate charities and causes. Scammers may set up fake charity drives that will collect donations for any number of causes.
Verify the authenticity of any charity you’d like to make a contribution to by researching it before you send it any money. Pay special attention to how a charity wants to receive money. Cryptocurrencies or gift cards are red flags.