How to avoid Veterans Day scams: Tips so your donations reach people who need help

With Veterans Day coming up, many of us are turning our minds to ways of honoring service members and their families. Making a charitable donation is a great way to give back and the holiday is a time when many people are looking for the right organizations to give their money and time.

While there are plenty of well-respected foundations working to improve the lives of veterans, active service member and their families, there are also bad actors looking to take advantage of altruistic people and the people they are looking to help.

According to a warning from the Federal Trade Commission, charity scammers are known to target not only people looking to contribute around Veterans Day but veterans and their families themselves. As the holiday season approaches and more people are looking to give, it's advised that would-be donors keep in mind that not every so-called charity is the same and it pays to do a little extra due diligence before hitting "send" on that payment button.

Check below for a list of things to look out for when donating this Veterans Day to avoid falling victim to a scam.

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Signs of scams to look out for

◾ Don't trust caller ID as a form of identity verification; it is relatively simple for scammers to manipulate what appears on your screen to make it look like the call is coming from a recognized person or organization.

◾ Don't click links in messages or emails without confirming the sender's origin.

◾ Check a charity's online presence before donating. Google the name of the organization and look for an official website and accompanying contact information. Check that the website is secure and keep an eye out for bad reviews or a lack of additional information about them. Another easy way to do this is to type the name of the charity online along with the words "fraud" or "scam."

◾ Beware of selling tactics such as pressuring you to donate immediately, promising you will receive prizes or other compensation for donating, contacting you repeatedly or out of the blue, or insisting you have previously donated though you have no memory of doing so.

◾ Beware of suspicious payment methods such as requests to send your donation via wire transfers, gift cards, cash, or cryptocurrency. The safest way to pay is using a credit card so that your banking intuitions can help you if things go awry.

◾ If you are contacted with requests for a donation, ask for the charity's name, website, phone number, address, email and details about their mission statement, who and how many people they service, what percentage of donations go directly to programs and where you can find further disclosures on their financials.

Check if the charity is registered or has credentials with your state charity regulator, the Better Business Burea Wise Giving Alliance, AARP, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, GuideStar, or the IRS Tax Exempt Organization search.

◾ Double-check the name of the charity to ensure it is not only findable and known but also isn't a suspiciously close variation on an existing, trusted organization.

◾ Get a receipt after donating and check your bank statement to be sure things are consistent.

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Well-known charities to donate to this Veterans Day

One easy way to ensure your money is going where you want it to this Veterans Day is to stick with well-established and respected charitable organizations. You can even choose to donate your time or skills if you don't have the cash to spare but still want to show appreciation to service members and their families.

Luckily, resources like CharityWatch keep a close eye on organizations collecting money for a variety of causes, tracking information like what percentage of each donation goes directly to the people and programs aided by the charity.

Here is a list of some respected charities and organizations to donate time and money to this upcoming Veterans Day:

◾ Semper Fi & America’s Fund provides one-on-one case management, connection, and lifetime support for all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, with 91% of donations going directly toward funding programs.

◾ Wounded Warriors Family Support aims to provide a better quality of life to military personnel and their families wounded, injured, or killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also financially supports other veteran organizations with similar missions. It has an 88% program percentage.

◾ K9s for Warriors rescues and trains shelter dogs to be paired as service dogs for warriors with service-connected post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, and/or military sexual trauma. It has a 70% program percentage.

◾ The Fisher House Foundation constructs and furnishes houses and provides assistance and scholarships to military families and children. It has a 91% program percentage.

◾ Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors offers 24/7 tragedy assistance to anyone who has suffered the loss of a military loved one, regardless of the relationship to the deceased or the circumstance of the death. It has an 83% program percentage.

 ◾ Hope For The Warriors provides comprehensive support focused on transition, health, wellness, peer engagement, and connections to community resources with an 86% program percentage.

◾ Gary Sinise Foundation creates and supports unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen and build communities with an 87% program percentage.

◾ The Bob Woodruff Family Foundation works to find, fund, and shape innovative programs that help our impacted veterans, service members, and their families thrive. It has a 76% program percentage.

◾ Folds of Honor Foundation provides financial assistance for the education of spouses and dependent children of servicemen/women who are either killed or permanently disabled while serving. It has a 91% program percentage.

◾ Homes For Our Troops builds and donates specially adapted custom homes nationwide for the most severely injured post-9/11 veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives with an 84% program percentage.

◾ National Military Family Association guides military families of all ranks, including those of the deployed, wounded, and fallen, through stressful times by providing children's and family programs, financial help, advice, and advocacy with an 86% program percentage.