How to spot fake donation campaign organisations

We often ask ourselves whether the campaign we are considering donating to is genuine and whether we will end up being scammed and the organizers will disappear with the collected funds like smoke or divert a large part of them.

It is trust that is at the heart of any successful donation campaign. Sadly, there are more than one or two cases where unscrupulous individuals abuse people's kindness and take the ugliest advantage of their desire to help. It has happened to most of us that we have given money to a beggar or a random person who has stopped us on the street and most unceremoniously lied to us that he has no money for bread or even worse, that his child is sick, and then we see him buying alcohol from a nearby shop with the money we have given him.And there are dozens of cases in history of fake charity foundations that managed to rob the hopes of thousands of people and embezzle the money they donated. It is the charitable campaigns that suffer the most , the people behind them with honest intentions and a desire to truly benefit society.

When we know the person behind thecampaign, it is easier to trust them and join their cause. However, how do we know that the charity campaign is real when we know nothing about the people who are organizing it, but we like the cause and want to join it? It is important to donate consciously so that we do not fall victim to scammers who want to abuse our good intentions. Here are some tips on how to tell the difference between real and fake charity campaigns:

Do your own research

Undoubtedly, this is a good way to reassure yourself and eliminate worries that you might fall victim to scammers. Honestly, you should always keep one thing in mind and donate consciously when it comes to campaigns not run by recognizable organizations such as UNICEF or the CDB. There are an awful lot of donation campaigns on the internet and beyond that we have no way of knowing personally. That's why you have to look for the "credibility marks". One of them, for example, is the presence of a campaign on the PavelAndreev.ORG platform. Keep in mind that every cause that has one has been subjected to meticulous vetting by the organization. Another "sign of credibility" is when a well-known personality or organization stands behind the cause that has earned the trust of the people over the years and has no intention of risking its reputation. However, it never hurts to do your research and seek information about the cause or ask people you know about the organisation.

Contact the charity organisers

Contact the organisers of the charity campaign and ask them the questions you are vividly interested in. Ask for information about the cause and their intentions. We highly recommend you do so, especially when you intend to donate a larger amount. Through personal contact, you will get an impression of the people behind the cause and then your "gut feeling" may even come calling, telling youif these people are scammers or if you can trust them. By the way they talk about their cause and the twinkle in their eye you will know how much they need our donation and what their real intentions are.

If you are willing you can also volunteer for the organization and its cause, which will allow you to get an even better insight into their work. Once you have seen how things work "from the inside", you will know for sure if they deserve your support and you could easily return to your role as a "donor". Bear in mind that the organisers of "fake charity campaigns" will not let you into the "kitchen" lightly and will try to keep you out of their way.

Use the PavelAndreev.ORG platform

As mentioned earlier, the foundation of successful donation campaigns is trust. The Pavel Andreev Foundation's charitywebsite has managed to build a name for itself as a trusted partner you can rely on when you are in a difficult situation. Rest assured that in their face you will always find support and they will assist you with whatever they can. Donation campaigns that are part of the charitywebsite are pre-screened and a certain set of documents is required before the collected funds are transferred to a medical facility or to the donation account. Especially when it comes toraising funds for treatment, theprocedure is very serious and Pavel Andreev's team have taken all necessary measures to keep scammers away from the platform and ensure the peace of mind of their donors.

Even if you fall victim to scammers, you should not blame yourself in any way for allowing this to happen and somehow becoming complicit in their campaign. Do not lose faith in the good, as you are clear before your conscience and only your good intentions have brought you this far. Unfortunately there will always be those who will try to take advantage of your compassion and that of others. So again we urge you to only make "conscious donations" and not be too easily deceived by your blind desire to help.