Holiday scam alert! The holidays might inspire your giving spirit but watch out for scammers aiming to exploit your generosity.
Be wary for scammers contacting you via phone, email or text message who ask for a donation to a charity, association, federation or religious cause. Recognize high-pressure tactics used by scammers to try to get you to donate immediately.
The charity may not exist, or the scammer may not actually be associated with it. Fraudsters might use the names of legitimate charities to collect money from well-intentioned consumers.
Resist the pressure tactics. To avoid charity scams, take the time to ask for information in writing before donating and confirm the charity is registered with Canada Revenue Agency at 800-267-2384 before providing any personal or financial information.
Also, be on the lookout for false and deceptive crowdfunding ads. We recommend donating locally. If you would like to donate to a disaster relief campaign, visit your local Red Cross.