If you're looking for ways to avoid being scammed by a charity call, you've come to the right place. We'll go over the red flags of giving out your personal information and how to check whether or not a charity is legitimate.
1. What is a Charity Scam Call?
A charity scam call is when you receive a phone call that appears to be from a charity. The caller will ask for donations or personal information, but they're just trying to steal your money and identity. The caller will often use specific words and phrases to gain your trust. They might tell you that they're from a local charity or maybe even the name of your local police department.
Charity calls can be a little different than other scam calls, but many of the same red flags apply. Keep your personal information private from everyone over the phone, especially if you're unsure whether they're legitimate. Check to see if the charity is legitimate and consider donating in person or through the mail.
2. Don't Disclose Your Personal Information
If you are being called by someone claiming to be from a charity, you mustn't give them any personal information. Even if they ask for your name and phone number, remember that this is the scammer's number and should not be given to anyone else.
Also, remember that this person may try to get your credit card number or other personal information by calling back after speaking with you over the phone.
3. Check to see if the charity is legitimate.
The first thing you should do is check a charity's website. If they're up to date, they will likely be able to provide accurate information about their donation process. You can also look them up on Charity Navigator and see how much of your money goes directly back into the community instead of spending on administrative costs like salaries or office space.
If the charity isn't legitimate by any means, there are several ways to get in touch with them directly:
- Call the office number listed on their website (if available) or the email address provided in their materials. Make sure you have all questions answered before making any commitments!
- Send an email through their contact page asking for more information about each step involved in donating money through them; this could help narrow down what kind of scammer may have contacted you so far down into this article!
4. Consider donating in person or through the mail.
Donating in person is the best option for most people, as it's much easier to verify that the charity exists and doesn't need your money. In addition, you can ask questions about how the organization spends its funds and ensure that your donation will be used for its intended purpose.
If you're feeling generous but also want to keep track of where your donation goes, consider donating through the mail instead. Send cash or checks rather than giving them over the phone. This can be especially helpful if there's any chance of fraud or identity theft involved when making large payments through gift cards or wire transfers.
While these methods are convenient enough when they work well (and many do), they often need to look right when scrutinized by law enforcement agencies later down the line!
5. Consider Getting a Call Blocker
If you're getting frequent calls from someone you don't want to talk to, consider getting a call blocker. You can install this device on your phone line or mobile device that will automatically stop any incoming calls from specific numbers—whether a scammer trying to get money out of you or someone who won't go away!
CPR Call Blocker V100K for landline phones has been preloaded with 100,000 known scam or nuisance numbers reported to the FCC. Once the call blocker is connected, this can significantly reduce robocalls, scam calls, political calls, election calls, and general nuisance calls.
- The red "Block Now" button is on the unit's top. At the push of a button, the unwanted caller's number is stored in the unit's memory, the call will hang up, and you will block the number permanently. This feature allows you to block up to 10,000 unwanted calls.
- CALL LIST: By clicking on the CALLS LIST button, you can display the last 20 calls. Should you wish to add any of these numbers when shown, press the BLOCK NOW button.
- BLOCK LIST: Numbers can be easily removed by pressing the DELETE button when the number is shown on the screen.
- (#) 2 BLOCK FEATURE Block a number by entering # 2 (Pound 2) on any cordless handset connected to the telephone base.
- LARGE SCREEN: Features a large, easy-to-read 3-inch display screen.
- Unplug the line cable to your handset and plug it into the line port on the call blocker.
- Connect the black cable to the Tel Port of the call blocker and reconnect to your handset.
- BLOCKLIST: By clicking on the BLOCKLIST button, you can view your complete blocklist and, if necessary, easily remove a number from the blocklist by pressing the DELETE button.
- COMPACT SIZE: Measuring just 5.12 x 5.12 x 3.15 Inches.
Conclusion
Even if you've been scammed in the past, there are ways to avoid future scams and protect yourself. Before giving out personal information, double-check that the charity is legitimate and that the call is not a scam.
If they're unsure of their information, they should ask for more clarification or report it at once. Always follow up with organizations within two weeks of receiving a donation, so they know you've received it safely!
Our call blockers protect you and your family from unsolicited phone calls and allow you to unwind at home. If you need to sort calls, check out our products or give us a call so we can help.