Holiday Scams In Disguise: What To Watch Out For When Donating Online

The holidays are a time for giving, but unfortunately, they're also prime time for scammers.

A few years ago, authorities shut down a massive telefunding scam that made 1.3 billion deceptive calls and stole over $110 million from donors. Around the same time, Cornell researchers found 800+ fake donation accounts running scams across Facebook, X, and Instagram.

From fake charities to social media fundraisers that look legit, bad actors know emotions run high this time of year. When your business gives, your reputation is part of the package.

So how do you give generously without getting duped? Let's break it down.

🎯 Why It Matters for Your Business

Even one sketchy donation, whether made publicly or by an employee using your company name can link your brand to fraud, damage customer trust, and spark a PR headache.

And the same tricks used in fake charity scams (like urgency, emotional manipulation, and impersonation) are also common in phishing, invoice fraud, and wire transfer scams.

Training your team to spot one helps them spot them all.

🧠 How to Vet a Fundraiser Before Donating

A real fundraiser should easily answer the below questions:
🔹 Who's organizing it and how are they connected to the cause?
🔹 Where's the money going and over what timeline?
🔹 Who controls the withdrawals and is there a clear path for funds reaching their target?
🔹 Are friends or family publicly supporting the campaign?

If anything's vague or dodged? Hit pause.

🏢 Not Just Crowdfunds Check Those Charities, Too

Even established organizations can be a little shady behind the scenes so be sure to be mindful of the below with your generosities

📊 Transparent financials and program descriptions
🔍 Clear breakdowns of how donations are used
🔎 A clean reputation (no "charity + scam" hits in search)

If details are missing or the name raises red flags online, trust your gut.

💳 Tactics Scammers Use During the Holidays

Scammers often:
🚫 Ask for gift cards, crypto, or wire transfers only
🔓 Skip security (no "https" in their web link)
⏰ Use fake urgency or say you "already pledged"
🎭 Build polished websites or social media pages to look credible

Even convincing setups can be fake, so don't rely on looks alone.

✅ How to Protect Your Business (and Your Generosity)

Here's how to give smart this season:

1. Create a Donation Policy: Define how your business gives and who approves it.
2. Educate Your Team: Make sure employees know how to spot fake fundraisers, especially if you're donating under your business name.
3. Use Trusted Channels: Always give through official websites not random links in texts or social posts.
4. Verify Before You Share: If you're publicizing your support, double-check the organization.
5. Follow Up: Reputable charities post updates and impact reports check to see how your donation made a difference.

🎉 Keep Your Holidays Generous Not Risky

The holidays should be about giving back, not cleaning up fraud.

With a few simple policies and a little team training, your business can give with confidence without worrying about scammers turning your generosity into a liability.

👉 Want to help your team spot fake fundraisers, phishing emails, and other scams before they cost you?
Book your free discovery call:
https://chrcreative.com/services/portland-cybersecurity-services

Because the best gift you can give your business and your community is trust that can't be stolen. 💙