The holidays bring out the best in people—and, unfortunately, the worst in cybercriminals.
Every year, scammers take advantage of goodwill, emotion, and speed. The Federal Trade Commission once uncovered a telefunding ring that made 1.3 billion deceptive donation calls, collecting over $110 million from generous people who thought they were helping.
Online, the problem is even more pervasive. Researchers from Cornell University identified over 800 fraudulent donation accounts on platforms like Facebook, X, and Instagram—each designed to manipulate emotion and move money fast.
For small and mid-sized businesses, one wrong click can do more than lose a few dollars. A donation tied to a scam can compromise your data, stain your reputation, and erode hard-won trust with clients and your community.
Here’s how to make sure your generosity this season strengthens—not risks—your brand and your cybersecurity posture.
Step 1: Vet the Fundraiser Before You Give
A legitimate fundraiser should answer these questions clearly:
- Who is running this, and what’s their real connection to the cause?
- How will the funds be used, and over what timeline?
- Who controls withdrawals, and how do funds reach the intended recipient?
- Do family or close contacts publicly support the campaign?
If any of these are unclear—or if organizers dodge your questions—pause before donating. Transparency is your first line of defense.
Step 2: Recognize Red Flags That Signal Scams
Watch for:
- False or contradictory information on the campaign page
- Delays in using funds as described
- Copycat fundraisers that impersonate others
- Emotionally manipulative stories designed to bypass logic
When in doubt, verify the story through multiple sources or use charity vetting tools like Charity Navigator, GuideStar, or BBB Wise Giving Alliance.
Step 3: Vet Charities—Not Just Crowdfunds
Even long-standing organizations can mishandle funds or misrepresent impact. Check for:
- Detailed program descriptions and transparent financial reports
- A clear breakdown of how each dollar supports programs vs. overhead
- No significant history of complaints or fraud mentions in search results
Due diligence protects your goodwill and ensures your contribution actually helps those in need.
Step 4: Recognize Common Cyber-Charity Tactics
Many “charity scams” double as phishing or social engineering attacks. Here’s what to watch for:
- Requests for donations via gift cards, wire transfers, or crypto wallets
- Websites missing “https” or containing subtle spelling errors
- Urgent or guilt-based appeals urging you to donate immediately
- Emails claiming you’ve already pledged—a tactic to get you to click a malicious link
These scams are not just about stealing money—they’re often used to harvest credentials, infect systems with malware, or compromise business email accounts.
At Mirrored Storage, we often remind clients that spotting fake fundraisers is part of the same skill set as spotting phishing attempts. The behavior is the same—only the disguise changes.
Step 5: Why This Matters for Your Business
Corporate giving reflects your company’s values. A donation connected to fraud or a compromised website can harm your credibility overnight. Worse, the same techniques used in fake charity schemes—impersonation, urgency, deceptive links—also appear in invoice scams, vendor fraud, and spear-phishing emails.
Training your team to verify charities builds vigilance across all forms of digital risk. It’s not just a charitable act—it’s part of a culture of cyber resilience.
Step 6: Protect Your Business—and Your Goodwill
Here’s how to make sure your holiday giving is both generous and secure:
- Establish a Donation Policy: Define who approves donations and through which platforms.
- Educate Employees: Remind staff to verify fundraisers before donating under your business name.
- Use Trusted Channels: Always go directly to the charity’s official site—never donate through links in emails or social media posts.
- Implement MFA & Endpoint Protection: Ensure devices used for transactions are protected by multi-factor authentication and anti-phishing safeguards.
- Monitor & Verify Impact: After donating, check that funds are used as promised. Many legitimate charities share impact reports.
Partnering with a trusted IT and cloud provider—like Mirrored Storage—can help you put technical safeguards behind your generosity. With secure data backups, phishing protection, and continuous monitoring, your good intentions stay backed by good security.
Keep the Season Generous—Not Risky
The holidays are about community, not compromise. Thoughtful giving, backed by solid verification and cybersecurity habits, keeps your business reputation—and your heart—in the right place.
If you’d like to equip your team to recognize scams—from fake fundraisers to fraudulent invoices—book a free discovery call with Mirrored Storage. We’ll help you strengthen both your cybersecurity and your culture of trust.
Because the best gift your business can give this season is integrity that can’t be hacked—and trust that can’t be stolen.