The IRS has reminded taxpayers that while donating to disaster relief is a compassionate and impactful way to help, it is equally important to remain cautious. In the aftermath of disasters, scam activity has increased, with fraudsters creating fake charities or posing as representatives of legitimate organizations. To safeguard contributions, donors must verify organizations through the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool before donating. Additionally, legitimate charities will never request donations in the form of gift cards, cash, or wire transfers. Keeping receipts and reviewing financial statements closely ensures contributions are both secure and potentially tax-deductible.
Further, scammers may impersonate government officials, manipulate caller IDs, or use vague emotional appeals without providing specifics. Thus, donors are urged to avoid giving personal information and ensure their donation is truly reaching a qualified charity. Suspected fraud can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission or the National Center for Disaster Fraud.
