Illinoisans wanting to help besieged Ukrainians must be mindful of whom they donate to.

CHICAGO, March 14, 2022 – The Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS)—one of the largest state CPA societies in the nation—warns that scammers are taking aim at those wanting to help Ukraine’s displaced citizens and refugees among the Russian government’s unprovoked invasion of the sovereign nation. These scammers also want to help—they want to help themselves to donors’ money.

If you’re considering donating to an organization claiming to support Ukraine aid efforts, taking the time to research the charity is critical to ensuring your donations meant for humanitarian relief are being used for the intended purpose.

The first step is determining whether the charity is a Sec. 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. The IRS’ exempt organization search can assist with that. You can also search for organizations compliant with Illinois’ reporting requirements via Illinois’ Building Better Charities website.

The GuideStar, Charity Navigator, and BBB Wise Giving Alliance websites offer additional resources for giving wisely. For instance, GuideStar provides access to recent IRS Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax, filings that disclose how much a not-for-profit spends on programs.

When considering donations, experts advise that money should never be donated over the phone, links in email solicitations shouldn’t be clicked, and high-pressure tactics seeking immediate payments are a sign of danger. Other tips include:

• Slow down. You don’t have to give immediately. It’s worth repeating that doing some upfront research can potentially spare you from being a victim of fraud.
• Make sure you’re visiting the correct website. Again, GuideStar and Charity Navigator can help. Rather than clicking on a link, it’s wise to ensure you’re visiting a reputable site by entering the URL in your browser manually.
• Know who’s asking. Don’t assume a request to donate is legitimate because a friend posted it on social media.
• Don’t make donations in cash or with a debit card. A credit card provides more security.
• Monitor your accounts. After donating, check your accounts regularly. Look for any suspicious activity or unauthorized charges and set up notifications, through your bank or a banking app, that will alert you to account activity.

If you’re an Illinois resident and believe you’re the victim of a scam, contact your financial institution to put a hold on your credit card, notify the Illinois attorney general, and file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.