8List.ph
  • News
    • Showbiz
    • Opinion
    • Sports
    • Profiles
    • Weird
  • Adulting
    • Career
    • Money
    • Health
    • School & Learning
    • Relationships
  • Pop
    • Movies & TV
    • Music
    • Books
    • Games
    • Theater
    • Retro
    • K-World
  • Lifestyle
    • Style
    • Beauty
    • Food & Drink
    • Nest
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Pinoy
  • Videos
    • 8List Asks
    • Pagsubeks
    • Kaya Today!
    • Archives
      • 8list Plays
      • 8List Explores
      • 8List Presents
      • 88 Seconds
      • 8secs
      • Filgood
      • Isabuhay Ang Panata
      • #8MinutesWith
      • YOUth DECIDE
      • Str8 Up with Delamar
      • Toughest Job 2016
  • H8 Mondays
  • Breathe
  • About
  • Sitemap
  • Advertise
  • Privacy
  • Archive
  • Bitesized.ph
  • Windowseat.ph

 

 

 

8List.ph is published by ID8, Inc.

Subscribe
8List.ph
8List.ph
  • News
    • Showbiz
    • Opinion
    • Sports
    • Profiles
    • Weird
  • Adulting
    • Career
    • Money
    • Health
    • School & Learning
    • Relationships
  • Pop
    • Movies & TV
    • Music
    • Books
    • Games
    • Theater
    • Retro
    • K-World
  • Lifestyle
    • Style
    • Beauty
    • Food & Drink
    • Nest
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Pinoy
  • Videos
    • 8List Asks
    • Pagsubeks
    • Kaya Today!
    • Archives
      • 8list Plays
      • 8List Explores
      • 8List Presents
      • 88 Seconds
      • 8secs
      • Filgood
      • Isabuhay Ang Panata
      • #8MinutesWith
      • YOUth DECIDE
      • Str8 Up with Delamar
      • Toughest Job 2016
  • H8 Mondays
  • Breathe
  • Adulting

How to Make Sure Your Donations Aren’t Going to Scammers

  • Posted on Nov 19, 2020Nov 19, 2020
  • 4 minute read
  • Meryl Medel
Total
1
Shares
0
0
1

How to Make Sure Your Donations Aren’t Going to Scammers

Nov 19, 2020   •   Meryl Medel

It’s been days since the typhoon passed, but the relief operations aren’t stopping. So maybe you figured you want to help, and you might be overwhelmed with the droves of donation drives you’re seeing online. But don’t just pick one at random. Make sure the person or organization you’re sending your donations to are legit. So here are some tips you should practice to be sure your donation is going where it should

 

Look for established organizations and charities

For your donations, here are the official bank accounts and donation lines of the Philippine Red Cross.

Thank you for helping us help others ❤️#Ulysses#RedCrossRescue#RescuePH#IsabelaNeedsHelp #CagayanNeedsHelp pic.twitter.com/Wdkkan4ZRK

— Philippine Red Cross (@philredcross) November 14, 2020

If it’s your first time donating, make sure you bring your donations to trusted organizations. Those with a proven track record (i.e. past donation drives in similar disasters, etc.) should be the ones you’re looking at. These include Philippine Red Cross, KayaNatinPH, ABS-CBN Foundation, GMA Kapuso Foundation, and the likes. If you’re not familiar with these types of organizations, do your research. Look up reviews, ratings, or complaints (if any) that may be associated with these organizations.

Want to Donate But Don’t Have the Budget? Here’s How You Can Help Typhoon Victims
Want to Donate But Don’t Have the Budget? Here’s How You Can Help Typhoon Victims
Meryl Medel | Nov 18, 2020

 

Specify the donee

Could You Be Specific GIF from Couldyoubespecific GIFs

Lots of donation drives right now say that they will send the collected funds and donations to “victims of Typhoon Ulysses” or “Cagayan flood victims”, but it’s best to make sure the drive you’re joining is really for the typhoon. And to do that, you should look for proof of where exactly your donations are going. Things you should look for are receipts of donations, photos and videos of ongoing relief operations, their on-ground partner in Cagayan/Bicol/etc., and the likes.

 

Be wary of prize offers

Oprah Really GIF from Oprah GIFs

It’s a general rule that most organizations or individuals offering prizes if you just donate something is probably a scam. Donation isn’t a requirement for winning sweepstakes. But there may be small organizations that do this to encourage people to give back, like raffling off a much-desired item (e.g. gaming console, book, album, etc.) so more people would join and donate. If you really want to join, what you have to do is what we’ve been saying since the start: make sure they’re legit.

 

Don’t donate via emails or phone calls

Decline Denied GIF from Decline GIFs

Solicitations may come through your email address or phone number, but you have to be smart about these. Even if an email looks official, it could still be a scam, so don’t click any links or download any attachments! Phone calls, on the other hand, may be legit, but there are some third-party telemarketers who may get a cut on your donation. Which, you know, defeats the purpose of donating.

 

Don’t donate to people randomly sending you a message

With the numerous donation drives online comes the equally numerous “victims” that may be sending you direct messages to ask for help. Netizens have shared experiences with strangers privately messaging them, showing “photos” and sharing their “stories” of them being devastated by the floods, to ask for monetary donations. Some have been moved enough by these stories that they sent cash immediately. But it turns out they are just scammers.

#CagayanNeedsHelp
STOP USING THIS CAGAYAN NEEDS HELP TO SCAM PEOPLE!! THEY ARE NOW SUFFERING AND DYING FOR HELP! A LOT OF PEOPLE IS SCREAMING AND CRYING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF PAIN, SO STOP MAKING FUN OF THIS DISASTER!! BE WARE OF THIS SCAMMERS.
ctto pic.twitter.com/BmfOfJxw00

— entice. (@akotosiceles) November 14, 2020

Keep in mind that victims may not be able to immediately access communication lines (whether through the internet, text, or calls) due to the devastation they’ve experienced. While it might seem better to send donations directly to victims, these scammers prove that donating through trusted organizations, while it may take longer, is still safer, because you’ll be sure your goodwill goes to the right place.

Which leads to the next point.

LIST: Donation Drives to Help Those Hardest Hit by Typhoon Ulysses
LIST: Donation Drives to Help Those Hardest Hit by Typhoon Ulysses
Kyzia Maramara | Nov 13, 2020

 

Avoid donating cash if you can

Especially if you’re donating to individuals. Scammers are unfortunately abounding, even in this time of great need, so donations in kind may be a better option for most of us. Plus, you won’t have a record of your donation on you, so in case the drive might be a scam, you probably won’t be able to do anything.

 

If needed, send it via credit card

Charge Credit Card GIF from Charge GIFs

This way, you’ll be safer. You can have a record of your donation, in which you can review if you’ve donated the amount you’ve agreed to give, as well as a fighting chance against scammers. Disputing transactions over credit cards is slightly easier than over debit accounts, especially if you use payment channels like Paypal.

 

Disseminate information on known scammers

https://t.co/Axki5KLWrZ

— ️️️️ ️️️️ (@angelajeee) November 14, 2020

If you’ve seen information on a confirmed scammer or even encountered one yourself, make sure others know about them, so those who want to help would know who to avoid. Some netizens have compiled a list of scammers specifically targeting those donating to the flood victims.

 

How else can you avoid scammers when trying to help?


Total
1
Shares
0
0
1
Related Topics
  • charity
  • donations
  • philanthropy
  • scam
Avatar photo
Meryl Medel

Meryl finds joy in music, movies, museums, and making her way around the world.

Previous Article
  • Breathe
  • Lockdown Diaries

Study: 1 in 5 COVID-19 Patients Develop Mental Illness Within 90 Days

  • Posted on Nov 19, 2020Nov 18, 2020
  • Meryl Medel
View Post
Next Article
  • Pop

This Online Seller’s Savage Replies to 1-Star Reviews Screams the Biggest 2020 Mood

  • Posted on Nov 19, 2020
  • Kyzia Maramara
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Adulting

Anong Kwentong Third-World Artist Mo? Pinoys Share the Harsh Realities of Pursuing Careers in Art

  • Posted on Oct 3, 2023Oct 3, 2023
  • Edgardo Toledo
View Post
  • Adulting

How NOT to Become a Problematic Content Creator: 8 Must-Avoid Mistakes

  • Posted on Sep 28, 2023
  • Edgardo Toledo
View Post
  • Adulting

Carving Your Own Path Isn’t Always Pretty, But These Gen Zs Are Slaying the Game

  • Posted on Jul 13, 2023Jul 13, 2023
  • 8List Editor
View Post
  • Adulting

To Sampay or Not to Sampay? Viral Twitter Post Starts Debate on How to Be a Good Neighbor

  • Posted on Jul 12, 2023
  • Kyzia Maramara
View Post
  • Adulting

Tales From the Other Side: 8 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Became a Young Dad

  • Posted on Jun 6, 2023Jun 6, 2023
  • Tim Henares
View Post
  • Adulting

In Your Late 20s? 8 Best Pro Tips from Redditors Who’ve Been There

  • Posted on Jun 5, 2023Jun 5, 2023
  • Kyzia Maramara
View Post
  • Adulting

The Fresh Grad Checklist: Are You Ready to Thrive in the Real World?

  • Posted on May 19, 2023May 19, 2023
  • Recell Lafue
View Post
  • Adulting

Ready to Bring the Heat? 8 Traits of a Successful Go-Getter

  • Posted on May 18, 2023May 18, 2023
  • 8List Editor

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get the l8est delivered right to your inbox.

8List.ph
  • About
  • Sitemap
  • Advertise
  • Privacy
  • Archive
  • Bitesized.ph
  • Windowseat.ph
Your daily dose of entertaining, useful and informative lists.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.