How does the Scam Nonprofit Detector work?

You describe a charity you've seen — how you found it, what red flags you noticed — and AI cross-references it with known fraud patterns to give you a risk assessment.

What are common signs of a fake charity?

High-pressure tactics, accepting only gift cards or wire transfers, names similar to well-known orgs, no IRS registration, and appearing immediately after a disaster are major red flags.

Where can I verify if a charity is real?

Check the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search, Charity Navigator, or your state attorney general's charity registry.

Can this tool confirm a charity is legitimate?

It can flag red flags and low-risk signals but cannot definitively confirm legitimacy. Always verify through official sources.

AI for Social Impact · Free Tool

Scam Nonprofit Detector

Something feel off about a charity you've seen — especially after a disaster or in the news? Describe what you know and AI will flag whether it matches known patterns of fraudulent fundraising, before you give a cent.

Step 1 Describe what you've seen Name the org and check any warning signs you noticed.

Step 2 AI scans fraud patterns Cross-references against known scam tactics and red flags.

Step 3 Know if it's safe Get a risk score + exact steps to verify or report.

Name of the organization — as you've seen it written

How did you find out about them?

What's the context — is this tied to a recent event? — optional but important

Check everything you've noticed — select all that apply

Only accepts cash, gift cards, wire transfers, or crypto High-pressure or urgent language Name similar to a well-known org Can't find them on Charity Navigator / IRS No address, phone, or named leadership Appeared very recently after a disaster Website looks new, unprofessional, or broken Can't clearly explain how donations are used Uses generic charity language without substance

Anything else that feels off? — trust your gut, describe it

Try an example:

Scanning for fraud patterns and warning signals…

Scam Signal Assessment