Confident giving: Smart security tips for navigating common scams

Thoughtful safeguards to help keep your philanthropy on track

Thanks to technology, it’s now easier than ever for donors to give in response to a crisis or an urgent community need, or simply because they discover a new way to help. But as options for giving have increased, so has the risk that everyday giving transactions and interactions can be compromised.

At the same time, philanthropic decision-making has become more decentralized than ever, with many donors sharing responsibility with and getting input from family members, adding new complexities to the oversight process.

In this environment, security vigilance starts with understanding where risks tend to surface in day-to-day giving and how thoughtful safeguards help keep philanthropy on track. Here are some of the most common scams that donors face today, along with practical security tips to help you give with confidence.

Charity impersonation: Similar names and messaging

Fraudulent appeals can sometimes resemble legitimate organizations in name, branding, or mission, as artificial intelligence and other modern technologies make it easier to create polished websites, emails, or messages. This tactic can be especially prevalent during disasters or global crises, when urgency heightens the need for careful review.

Security tip: Give through trusted sources, such as direct links from an organization’s official website or through established giving platforms that include verification and review. Treat unfamiliar appeals—even when they look legitimate—as a prompt to pause and independently confirm before donating.

Urgent donation requests: Time-sensitive appeals

Messages that pressure you to “act now” are designed to accelerate decision-making and limit review, particularly during a crisis response or year-end giving. These requests may arrive by email, text, or messaging platforms and often reference real events or causes that you already support. Such approaches are often used by legitimate nonprofits during urgent moments, but they can also be mimicked by bad actors, making it prudent to pause and review before acting.

Security tip: Build review time into your giving process, even during time-sensitive moments. Legitimate nonprofits welcome thoughtful engagement and offer transparency into how funds will be used.

Email and payment impersonation: Request verification

Donors may receive messages that appear to come from known nonprofits, vendors, or advisors requesting updated payment details or directing funds to a new account. These messages are often associated with phishing attempts or business email compromise and are crafted to closely resemble legitimate outreach. While they may look authentic, reputable organizations typically avoid requesting sensitive financial information or urging immediate action in this manner.

Security tip: Avoid acting on unexpected payment detail changes communicated through a single channel. Instead, independently confirm requests using the known information of a contact at the organization and rely on secure giving platforms with built‑in safeguards.

Social media appeals: Fundraising requests that spread fast

Social platforms can quickly amplify fundraising messages—both legitimate and fraudulent. Images, stories, or copied language from real organizations can lend credibility to appeals that spread rapidly through shares and reposts.

Security tip: Use social media as a discovery tool, not as a donation endpoint. Confirm appeals through the organization’s official website or established giving channels before contributing.

Public donation visibility: Increased outreach

Sharing about your giving can inspire others and help draw attention to important causes. At the same time, visible donation activity can occasionally attract follow-up outreach that appears well-intentioned or closely aligned but may warrant an extra moment of review.

Security tip: Consider how publicly you share your giving activity and set clear preferences for how funding requests are received. When follow-up outreach does occur, taking a moment to confirm the details directly with the organization through a known contact can help ensure that everything is legitimate.

Trust remains the foundation of effective philanthropy and sustaining it requires intention and awareness. When strong safeguards are in place, donors can navigate a more complex digital landscape while continuing to act decisively in support of the causes they care about.