Question: Is it really safe to make a donation through an organization’s website using credit cards or checking account information?
Girl scouts, churches, football teams and neighborhood associations. They all have one thing in common: they will accept online donations. Organizations that take donations are implementing a new strategy with e-commerce by accepting donations using a credit card or debit card through their website. You’d be surprised to know that using your credit or debit card to make a donation is secure. But one question will remain on your mind before you hit that Submit button: How can I be safe?
We’ll show you a couple of signs that will help you determine if the organization you want to donate to really is legit.
Look For the Signs
There are a couple of quick signs to know that your donation will be safe. They are:
- HTTPS Addresses
- Digital Locks
An example of a
https:// web address
Usually when you go to a website the first part of the address will be http://. Any web page that accepts credit card information needs to be secure, and secure pages will have an extra s on the end. For example: https://
Why the s? The s on the end of the http:// tells us that the website has a SSL Certificate. A SSL Certificate is a digital signature that is embedded within the web page to let visitors know that they have a secure connection.
Most browsers will display a small lock icon, either toward the top or bottom of the browser window. The lock icon is a visual representation of the SSL certificate. It’s another reassurance that the web page you are about to put your information on is secure. Also if you double click on the lock icon, you’ll be able to pull up the certificate security information. This information will include:
An digital lock icon
- Who The Certificate Was Issued To
- What Company Issued The Certificate To The Organization
- What Date The Certificate Expires
- The Certificate “Digital Fingerprint”
Use A Little Common Sense
Even though a web page may have these obvious signs it’s always good using to use a little common sense. Before making a donation, ask yourself these questions:
How Long As This Organization Been Around?
If the organization you want to donate just established their website two weeks ago, then give it a little time. Even if they did just start-up you want to make sure they are reputable.
Have Others Made Online Donations?
If two years have passed and there are only three people on their donors list then this might raise a red flag. If other people have not made donations this could be a sign that the right security measures are not in place.
Do They Accept Small Donations?
Usually an organization is grateful for whatever you will donate, rather it be $1.00 or $1000.00. But be careful of organizations that do not accept small donations. If they only want donations starting at $5000.00 and higher and aren’t willing to accept other sums then you might want to find out why.
Watch Out For Donating By E-mail
Even if you get an e-mail for a well know organization asking for a donation, be careful. Scam artist have been know to use e-mail to perform charity scams whereby the donated money is stolen or they collect your credit card information. Most organizations will send you an e-mail if you are on their mailing list. If you do receive an e-mail you will be directed to a secure web page to make a donation.
Can You Contact The Organization Besides E-mail?
If you have questions or concerns you should be able to contact the organization by phone. E-mail addresses are ok, but they can be faked or not answered at all.
Know Their Policies
Most, if not all organizations will have some type of policy on their website about accepting online donations. This policy will detail what security measures have been established, what company handles their transactions, and contact information for further questions.
Making a donation online can be fulfilling but by using our suggestions you can be positive that your doing so in the safest manner possible.
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