There are a few things that a donor can do in order to protect their online donation when donating to a charity.
1. Verify the charity’s legitimacy: Before donating to a charity, be sure to verify its legitimacy by checking if it is registered with the appropriate government agency. To determine whether an organization is tax-exempt in the US, use the IRS’ Exempt Organizations Select Check tool.
2. Check for security certifications: Verify if the charity’s website is using security certifications, such as the SSL certificate, which ensures that any data entered on the site is encrypted and protected.
3. Look for privacy policies: Make sure the charity has a privacy policy that states how they collect, use, and protect donor information. The charity should also have a policy for how it will handle data breaches.
4. Research the charity’s reputation: Check out the charity’s reputation by doing a quick online search and reading reviews and ratings on sites like charitynavigator.org or guidestar.org
5. Avoid clickbait, impersonation and suspicious links: Be cautious of clickbait headlines, fake websites and suspicious links in emails or on social media. Cybercriminals often use these tactics to trick donors into visiting and donating to non-legitimate websites.
6. Use secure payment methods: When making a donation, use a secure payment method such as a credit card or PayPal. Avoid using prepaid debit cards or wire transfers, as these methods are often used by scammers.
7. Scan the website: The donor can use a cybersecurity tool to scan the charity website for malware and viruses and if it’s blacklisted.
If you want to make sure that your donation goes to a reputable charity and that your personal and financial information is kept safe, then take the time to do a bit of research!
By following these tips, you can ensure that your generous donation goes to benefiting the intended beneficiaries and does not end up in the hands of criminals or scam artists.
