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Annette Slavik, Prodigy Complete IT
The holidays are a season of giving — and scammers know it.
Each year, as generosity rises across Tampa Bay, fraudsters roll out convincing fake fundraisers and copycat charity sites designed to trick caring people into giving. Some even pretend to represent real local churches or nonprofits.
For community organizations built on trust and goodwill, this isn’t just a nuisance — it’s a direct threat to the bond you’ve built with your supporters.
Here’s how to help your donors stay safe, informed, and confident that their gifts are going exactly where they’re meant to go.
The Rise of “Look-Alike” Charities
Over the last few years, scam operations have stolen millions of dollars through fake charity campaigns — often using names and causes that sound almost identical to real ones.
Some scammers even create Facebook pages or websites using a legitimate church or nonprofit’s logo, then post “urgent donation requests.” Others use text messages or e-mails that look like official giving links.
These scams are sophisticated, emotional, and fast-moving — but with a few clear steps, your organization can help supporters tell the difference.
- Communicate Clearly About How You Accept Donations
Make sure your donors know exactly where and how to give.
If your church or nonprofit collects gifts through a platform like Tithe.ly, PayPal, or your website’s donation page, say so clearly — and repeat it often.
Share reminders in bulletins, newsletters, and social media posts like:
“If you’d like to give, please only use [YourOfficialWebsite.org/give]. We’ll never ask for donations through text messages or social media DMs.”
Consistency builds trust — and helps donors ignore anything that doesn’t match.
- Warn Supporters About Common Scams
You don’t need to scare people — just keep them informed.
Encourage your members and donors to slow down and check for these red flags:
- Requests to donate by gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency
- Messages that pressure them to “give right now”
- Misspellings in e-mails, web addresses, or sender names
- Claims that “you’ve already pledged” or “we’re following up on your donation”
When people know what scams look like, they’re far less likely to fall for them.
- Secure Your Own Online Presence
Make sure your organization’s online information can’t be easily copied or misused.
- Use a secure website (https) and update your passwords regularly.
- Keep your social media profiles verified and active, so impostor pages are easier to spot.
- Include your official donation links and contact info on every channel you manage.
If a fake account pops up pretending to be your organization, report it immediately — and post a warning to your followers.
- Thank and Confirm Every Gift
When someone gives, send an immediate thank-you e-mail or message confirming their donation came through the right channel.
Not only does this reassure genuine donors, it helps alert your organization if a supporter thought they gave — but their payment never reached you. That’s often the first sign a scammer was involved.
- Partner With Your Community
Share scam warnings in partnership with local coalitions, church networks, or nonprofit associations. The more unified the message, the harder it is for scammers to fool your community.
Even a short “Holiday Giving Safety” post shared among partner organizations in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and Tampa can protect hundreds of local donors.
Protecting Generosity Protects Your Mission
Your supporters give because they believe in your mission. Helping them stay safe honors that trust.
This season, a few extra reminders — in newsletters, during services, or at community events — can make a big difference.
If you’d like help reviewing your online giving pages, tightening up security, or setting up safer donation systems, our Clearwater-based IT team specializes in simple, affordable tech support for nonprofits and churches across Tampa Bay.
Together, we can keep your mission — and your donors’ generosity — safe this holiday season.
Because protecting your donors is another way of protecting your ministry.
