BBB Scam Alert: A donation you don’t remember making?

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A donation you don’t remember? It’s likely credit card fraud.

With so many purchases during the holiday season, it can be easy to miss a fraudulent credit card charge or two – especially if it appears to be from a charity. But watch out! Strange donation charges are a sign that scammers have your credit card number. 

How this scam works:

You review your credit card statement and notice a charitable donation that you don’t remember making. No, it’s not a memory lapse; you were a victim of credit card fraud.

These phony charity charges are part of a bigger con. It all started when scammers got your credit card information, which may have been shared in a scam or as part of a data breach. After getting your credit card details, scammers now need to check whether they are valid. To do this, scammers often use charity websites. Charities often don’t have sophisticated fraud protection, so it’s easy for scammers to make a lot of small donations. When the charges go through, the scammer knows that your card details are still valid. Then, they will use your card for bigger purchases.

One person reported to BBB Scam Tracker that after making a purchase from questionable discount website, their debit card “was pinged for fraudulent charges ranging from $2 to $29 then finally $67 for a charity. I’ve had to cancel my debit card, order a new and block my account.”

If you notice strange donation charges, be sure to report them immediately. With about a third of charitable giving happening in December, this con is particularly easy to miss during the holiday season.

How to avoid unauthorized credit card scams: 

  • Report any questionable charges immediately. Don’t wait until a scammer charges hundreds of dollars to your card. You’ll be issued a new card, and your old card number will be unusable for scammers to exploit. 
  • Keep a close eye on charges made to your account. Periodically review your credit card statements. Contact your bank or credit card company immediately if you notice anything strange.
  • Protect sensitive personal information. Don’t make purchases from suspicious online businesses, and stay alert to phishing scams that claim to need your credit or debit card information. Never enter payment information into a website until you are sure you’re dealing with a trustworthy business.
  • See the full article on BBB.org for more tips. 

Learn more about your rights and responsibilities when it comes to stolen credit card details.