Beware charity scams!

Sunny

Sunny

SF VIP
Location
Maryland
At this time of year, the scammers are out in full force. AARP warns us that a lot of realistic-looking but fake appeals for money are being sent to seniors. Many of them look like a real charity. So be careful.
 

That is right. Same goes for email's asking for donations. If it is a charity you WOULD like to donate to, do not follow the link in an email you get. Type it in directly. Emailed links may go to realistic looking but fake websites.
 
I gave $10 to a charity some years ago. Yeah, it wasn't much, but I figured, at least, somebody would get a free meal. But since that time, I got an avalanche of mail from every charity on the planet. And I knew my name and address were sold by the charity, which I gave the 10 bucks. I'm dyslexic and I misspelled my own name on that $10 form. And it was misspelled on all those other charity mailings. And the original $10 charity must have sent $hundreds of costly shiny, colored mailings for more money.
 

Yep, when a friends mom died, the family asked for donations to the Hospice she was in when she died. That was about 6 or 7 years ago, and we are still getting requests for donations from them. Think of the money they would save by not spending the money to ask for more money
 
It is the RARE charity that donates most of it money to the "alleged" cause. Many of them spend more money on advertising and bloated executive salaries than they do for their intended purposes. Before a person donates, it is wise to look at the history and results of that charity at sites such as Charity.org. Some are outright scams....recently the Wounded Warrior Project was cited for such fraud...but I notice they are back to advertising heavily on the TV again. I wonder how much they are paying Trace Adkins to spout their baloney.
 
I am pretty much sick and tired of the old poor stupid senior got scammed!
Don't want to get scammed? Just say no!!!! Pick the charity or programs you want, say no to everyone else!
Why is it difficult? You hit 65 and your brain falls out?
No one can use abuse or scam you with out your help.
You did not win a lottery you did not enter
If you enter into a scheme with a Nigerian Prince to get money you did not earn, you deserve to lose your savings
 
A few years ago, a friend died. Her family posted one of those announcements, saying "in lieu of flowers," and giving the names of her two favorite charities, The Nature Conservancy and I think the other one was The Sierra Club or World Wildlife Fund. I made a donation to The Nature Conservancy in her memory. Since then, I've been receiving reminders from them that my "membership" is due to expire, with a convenient envelope for me to send them my dues for the next year. And I am constantly getting stuff like calendars, etc. Their misleading requests for money go right in the trash, but I do have their calendar hanging on the wall. I mean, why not?

They may be a worthy cause, but this aggressive and fraudulent fundraising doesn't speak well for them.
 
Robusta, like you, I am amazed at the number if seniors falling for the scams. I am sure younger people do as well, though. It may seem there are more of us being scammed, because I think we are targeted more often. What do you think? I also feel that many (not all) seniors are much more trusting. I know I have almost fallen for some things, but have stopped short and said something like "I have to talk with my husband" or something like that.
My husband is smart guy, but I have had to tell him MANY times to check with me before responding to anything like that. But, he does tend to be too easy to trust people, even strangers.
 
On another note, it is not just seniors. My job was working with people with disabilities. Some had cognitive limitations. Had someone fall for the Nigerian Prince one. She did send some money. It took a LONG time and effort to convince her he was not real, and just wanted her money, and she would get nothing in return. She stopped interactions, changed her email and cell number, but I feel she was not entirely convinced.
 
Currently, the "fad" seems to be these "Go Fund Me" sites that are popping up on social media....to supposedly help people who have experienced some tragedy recently. I often wonder how long it will be before the scammers take over that source of charitable giving.
 
Don M. said:
Currently, the "fad" seems to be these "Go Fund Me" sites that are popping up on social media....to supposedly help people who have experienced some tragedy recently. I often wonder how long it will be before the scammers take over that source of charitable giving.
Click to expand...

I think some already have. People have had tragedies, and learned of GoFundMe sites that they knew nothing about, and the originator was not known to them.
 
Marie5656 said:
Robusta, like you, I am amazed at the number if seniors falling for the scams........ It may seem there are more of us being scammed, because I think we are targeted more often.....I also feel that many (not all) seniors are much more trusting. I know I have almost fallen for some things, but have stopped short and said something like "I have to talk with my husband" or something like that......
Click to expand...

IMHO, there are simply hordes of seniors who are simply not 'sophisticated' in their knowledge of the internet. In many cases, I blame them as there are just so many articles warning of scams, and it would certainly help if some of these seniors would give up some of their game time and do some reading. There are scams that have been around for years, well publicized for years, and on various forums, you'll see people posting how they either got scammed, or almost, from schemes that have been around for years (like the Microsoft one that says you're losing your license to Microsoft and need to contact them immediately). And people keep opening questionable emails and clicking on links. This is discussed ad-nauseum.
The IRS one is really disappointing. How many times does it have to be stated that government agencies send letters, not emails, if they need you to contact them.
 
retiredtraveler, you are so right about the IRS scams! We got a message on our answering machine that said we were about to be served by the IRS. And we needed to call a number. I just laughed and deleted the message! I worked with a lady years ago (maybe 40 years ago) and her friend got her to volunteer to work with United Way for the holidays. She was appalled with the huge Holiday Celebration they hosted for the volunteers that was paid for with donations. Hope they have changed their policy since then.

This time of year you seem to be asked for a donation from everyone (at the grocery store check out, outside stores, etc.). Seniors only have so much they can give!
 
I wonder if that Nigerian prince is still looking for an American who is interested in sharing his funds. Anyone still getting that email?
 
Sunny said:
I wonder if that Nigerian prince is still looking for an American who is interested in sharing his funds. Anyone still getting that email?
Click to expand...

I have not seen the "Nigerian" scam in some years. But I have been called by the "IRS" at least 5 times now telling me I'm going to jail unless I call them immediately!!!
 
The "IRS" keeps calling me also. Unintentional humor on their part: A very Hispanic voice tells me his name is Kevin, and he is calling from the IRS to warn me that the cops are on their way, etc. I was tempted to ask "Kevin" what part of Ireland he was from, the Spanish-speaking part?
 
Don M. said:
Currently, the "fad" seems to be these "Go Fund Me" sites that are popping up on social media....to supposedly help people who have experienced some tragedy recently. I often wonder how long it will be before the scammers take over that source of charitable giving.
Click to expand...

OMG, don't get me started on the Go Fund Me beggars. UGH.
 
Don M. said:
Currently, the "fad" seems to be these "Go Fund Me" sites that are popping up on social media....to supposedly help people who have experienced some tragedy recently. I often wonder how long it will be before the scammers take over that source of charitable giving.
Click to expand...

GFM sites are terrible scams, in many, if not most, cases. As soon as a tragedy strikes, opportunistic "friends of the stricken" rush to set up a site to help their "friend in need." A woman I knew passed away. Her employer was providing insurance money for funeral expenses, plus she had life insurance to help out her family. Still, the (now predictable) GFM site popped up, online, and the last time I checked it, a half-year after the woman passed, there was over $15G's in it! I suspect that one day, soon, the total will be zeroed out and/or the site will disappear, as the "dear friend of the family" takes off for parts unknown to live a little higher on the hog, for a while. If you want to help out a given individual, contact that person, or his/her family, and ask where to send your check, as I do, in these cases.
 
The simple most important answer to all this:

DON"T TRUST anyone or any organization you never heard of
with any money or tangible goods!
Perhaps excluding immediate family and close friends. Maybe.
That's what I do. I suspect everyone, especially strangers.
Act as if everyone has their own self-interest in mind--they usually do.
It's human nature. Obviously some exceptions exist.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top