Fake Fundraisers: How to Check if Your Donation Goes Where You Want

Most fundraisers are legitimate. People genuinely raise money for a neighbor's medical treatment, for home repairs after a fire, for packages for families in Poland, for hospices, or for schools. Hundreds of thousands of such donations go exactly where they were intended.

The problem is that scammers know this very well. They copy photos of sick children from real fundraisers, set up a website with a name strikingly similar to a well-known foundation, and wait for a flood, fire, or war, because then people donate quickly and without checking.

This guide is not meant to discourage helping. It aims to show how to check in a few minutes who you are giving money to – in Poland and the United States. The rules in both countries are completely different, so we describe them separately, clearly marking what pertains to Poland and what to the USA.

When is a fundraiser a scam, and when is it just poorly managed?

This distinction is the most important in the entire guide, as it determines what you can do and where to turn.

A fundraiser is a scam when there is no legitimate purpose for which money is being raised from the beginning, or when the organizer intends to keep it for themselves. There is no sick child. There is no burned house. The foundation named does not exist or exists but has nothing to do with the fundraiser being conducted under its name. The photos have been copied from someone else's profile. This is a crime and should be reported as such.

A fundraiser is poorly managed when the purpose is genuine, but the organization operates ineffectively or clumsily. The foundation spends a lot on administration and marketing, and little on aid. It does not publish reports on time. It does not respond to donor inquiries. It raises money for a general purpose and then changes priorities. It forgot to report the collection with a can, although it should have. This can be frustrating, sometimes violating administrative regulations, but it is not the same as theft.

Between these two extremes is a wide gray area: intermediaries and companies collecting donations on behalf of others, which legally retain a large part of the donation as payment. We will discuss this further.

The practical takeaway: before accusing someone of fraud, check the facts. Before donating, also check the facts. These two sentences essentially summarize the entire guide; the rest is a user manual.

How fake fundraisers operate – mechanisms

Fundraiser for a non-existent person

The simplest scheme. A profile is created with a story: a child after an accident, a young mother with cancer, a veteran without a leg. The story is written emotionally and under time pressure (“surgery in two weeks”). The name sounds real, but it cannot be verified anywhere. There is no hospital name, no KRS number, no one who can confirm the story by name.

Misappropriation of someone else's story and photos

A more dangerous variant because it is harder to detect. The scammer takes a true story of a sick child described in the media and sets up their own fundraiser, providing their account number. The photos are authentic, the description is authentic, only the account is someone else's. The family often learns about this from strangers asking if they received money.

Impersonating a well-known foundation

The scammer uses the logo, name, and colors of an organization that everyone knows. The message looks like a foundation newsletter, and the link leads to a website that closely resembles the real one. The only difference is the address.

A name strikingly similar to a real organization

Instead of directly impersonating, the scammer registers something that sounds familiar: adds the word “Poland,” “Foundation,” “Help,” “International,” or changes the order of the words. People remember the general sense of the name, not its exact wording, and that is enough.

Fundraiser after a disaster, flood, fire, or war

After any major disaster, dozens of new fundraisers emerge within hours. Some are genuine and spontaneous, while others are pure calculation. Scammers count on the fact that in such moments, people donate instinctively, not after checking.

Fundraisers “for veterans,” “for the police,” “for hospices,” “for firefighters”

Names referring to services and care for the dying are particularly powerful. The caller often suggests that they represent a local unit or local hospice, even though there is no such relationship. Only USA: The IRS treats veterans' organizations as a separate category of eligible organizations – but the existence of the category does not mean that every organization using the word “veterans” belongs to it.

Phone requests for donations

A nice person calls, thanks you for “last year's support” (which did not happen), reminds you of the “declared amount” (which you did not declare), and asks for confirmation of card details. The conversation is conducted in such a way that you feel obliged.

Collecting with a can without notification

Only Poland: this is precisely the case where something can be checked on-site. Collecting cash in a public place generally requires prior notification, and the person collecting must have an identifier with the fundraising number. Details in the section on checking in Poland.

Fake payment pages

A link from a message leads to a page that looks like a payment gateway or bank login. The form collects the card number, expiration date, CVV code, sometimes an SMS code. The money does not go to any fundraiser – it goes to the scammer's card along with your data.

Request for a gift card or cryptocurrency

No legitimate charity organization needs a donation in the form of a code from a store gift card or a transfer in cryptocurrency “because it's faster.” These two forms share one thing: they are practically irreversible and cannot be disputed. The FTC explicitly identifies the payment method as one of the ways to recognize a scam – a request for payment via transfer, cryptocurrency, payment app, or gift card is a warning sign.

More about this mechanism: How to Avoid Scams with Apple and Prepaid Gift Cards and Crypto scams – what to watch out for before you invest.

Pressure to “donate now”

A legitimate organization will also accept your donation tomorrow. A scammer does not have that much time because their page will disappear in a few days. Hence the countdown timers, “5 spots left,” “surgery tomorrow morning.”

Recurring payment instead of a one-time donation

You donate once, but the form has the “support monthly” box checked by default, hidden under a button or written in the smallest font. After three months, you notice three charges on your statement instead of one. This can be an unfair trick, or it can simply be a designer's oversight – in both cases, you need to catch it before clicking.

Theft of card data under the guise of a donation

Sometimes the goal is not a donation at all. The goal is the card data. The donation amount may be symbolic because real money will be taken later, elsewhere. A sign: the form asks for more data than necessary – PESEL, ID number, date of birth, SSN.

Fundraisers on social media

A post in a Polish community group, a private message, an “event” with a link. Social groups are ideal for scammers because they give the impression of recommendation: since the post is in a group I have been in for years, someone must have checked it. Usually, no one has checked.

Fake fundraisers targeting the Polish community

A separate category, as it exploits specific emotions: helping families in the homeland, supporting a Polish school, parish, veterans, flood victims. The message is in Polish, sometimes with minor errors characteristic of machine translation. Sometimes the scammer claims to be from a shared parish or a Polish organization to which you actually belong.

Intermediaries taking most of the donations

This is the most underrated mechanism and often the most legally compliant. Organizations hire specialized companies to collect donations – by phone, by mail, on the street. The company receives payment, often a percentage of the amount collected. If that percentage is high, surprisingly little of your donation reaches the intended purpose.

Only USA: The BBB Wise Giving Alliance evaluates organizations based on twenty standards, including expenditures on statutory purposes and fundraising costs, and publishes reports at give.org. If the caller does not want to say whether they are an employee of the organization or an external company – that is an answer in itself.

Only Poland: similar information can be found in the reports of public benefit organizations published by the National Institute of Freedom and in the report on public fundraising on the public fundraising portal, where the organizer provides, among other things, the expected costs covered by the collected donations.

Examples of scam messages

All names, surnames, and addresses below are fictitious. The notation [.] instead of a dot is intentional to avoid accidental clicks.

Example of a scam message 1 – sick child, time pressure

Julka is 4 years old and has SMA. The operation in Boston is scheduled for August 12, and $18,000 is needed. The parents are desperate. Every penny counts. Donate: pomoc-dla-julki[.]org Please share!!!

Missing hospital name, missing organizer, missing fundraising number, deadline pressure, request for sharing instead of verification.

Example of a scam message 2 – impersonation of a foundation

The Heart of Hope Foundation thanks you for your past support. This year we are counting on you again. Click to donate: serce-nadziei-platnosc[.]com Your previous donation: 200 PLN.

The payment address is in a different domain than the foundation's website. Mentioning a “previous donation” that did not happen is meant to legitimize the sender.

Example of a scam message 3 – after a flood

URGENT. The water took everything in Nowa Grobla. People have nowhere to sleep. We are collecting for blankets, food, and medicine. BLIK to the number 600 000 000, title “flood.” Committee for Helping Victims.

Request for BLIK to a private phone number. Missing fundraising number, missing committee data, missing any address.

Example of a scam message 4 – phone on behalf of veterans

Hello, I am calling from the American Veterans Support Fund. Last year you pledged $75. We just want to confirm your card details to close last year's pledge. You provide the card number and the three digits on the back.

Made-up “last year's pledge,” request for CVV over the phone, name sounds official but is unverifiable.

Example of a scam message 5 – gift card

Our payment system is temporarily unavailable, but you can help right away. Buy a $100 gift card at the nearest store and send us a photo of the code on the back. It’s completely safe; we will issue a confirmation for tax deduction.

A gift card as a form of donation does not exist in any legitimate organization. The promise of a tax confirmation is meant to lull vigilance.

Example of a scam message 6 – cryptocurrency

Due to sanctions, we cannot accept bank transfers for help to children in war-affected areas. Please make donations in USDT to the wallet address below. The transaction is instant and anonymous.

The word “anonymous” in the context of a charitable donation is a red flag in itself. A donation that cannot be documented cannot be deducted or disputed.

Example of a scam message 7 – message from a “friend”

Hi, do you remember me from the Polish Chicago group? My brother is in the hospital, and I don’t have access to my account in Poland. Can you lend me $500 for treatment? I will pay you back next week. Just don’t tell anyone; I’m embarrassed.

A request for discretion is a standard element. It prevents you from calling mutual acquaintances to verify the story.

Example of a scam message 8 – subscription in disguise

Support the hospice with a donation of 25 PLN. [I donate 25 PLN] By checking the above, you agree to monthly charges of 25 PLN to be deducted until further notice, according to the regulations.

Consent for recurring charges is hidden under a button. Formally written, practically invisible.

Example of a scam message 9 – fake payment gateway

Thank you for choosing a donation of 50 PLN. To complete the payment, log in to your bank: bank-platnosc-online[.]net Enter your login, password, and SMS code.

A legitimate gateway never asks for your banking login and password on its own site. This is phishing with a charitable motive.

Example of a scam message 10 – impersonation of a Polish parish

Dear Parishioners, due to the roof renovation of our church, we are launching a fundraiser. Please direct donations to the account: PL00 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000, recipient: Jan Nowak. The parish priest.

The recipient of the transfer for a parish purpose is an individual, not the parish. This is almost always an identity theft or simple impersonation.

Example of a scam message 11 – “our” Polish organization

The Association of Polish Families in New Jersey is organizing assistance for families affected by the fire in Poland. We have already collected 92% of the goal. Be the last donor: polonia-pomoc-nj[.]site Donations only today.

The domain has an exotic extension, the progress bar is close to the end (a classic mechanism for joining the crowd), artificial deadline.

Example of a scam message 12 – “official” fundraiser

The Ministry is conducting a nationwide fundraiser to help flood victims. Donations through the official form: zbiorka-rzadowa[.]pl The donation will be automatically deducted from your tax.

The promise that “the donation will be automatically deducted” is false – the deduction is made by the taxpayer in the annual return and must have proof of payment.

Warning Signal Table

Warning Signal	Why it's suspicious	How to check it	What to do
Pressure to “donate today,” countdown timer	A legitimate organization will also accept donations tomorrow; haste is meant to bypass verification	Check if the same appeal with the same deadline has been circulating for months	Postpone the decision for 24 hours and return to the matter
Request for a gift card or cryptocurrency	Irreversible payments that cannot be disputed; not used by legitimate organizations	Check if the organization lists this form on its official website	Cease contact, do not buy the card
Donation to a private account or BLIK to a phone number	A donation to an individual provides no protection or deduction	Compare the name of the transfer recipient with the name of the organization	Donate directly to the organization's account or refrain
Website address different from the organization's domain	Typical impersonation method; the difference can be one letter	Type the organization's name into a search engine and enter from the result, not from the link	Do not click the link from the message
Name strikingly similar to a known foundation	Exploits general memory, not exact	Only Poland: KRS. Only USA: IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool	Verify the KRS or EIN number, not just the name
Collector without an identifier with the fundraising number	Only Poland: the organizer is required to provide an identifier with the fundraising number	Ask for an identifier and check the number at zbiorki.gov.pl	Do not drop money in the can, report to the Police
Phone call asking for card details	A legitimate organization does not need CVV over the phone	Hang up and call the number from the official website	Never provide CVV or SMS code
Request for discretion (“don’t tell anyone”)	Aims to prevent verification with mutual acquaintances	Call that person on a known number	Verify through another channel before donating
Form asks for PESEL, ID number, or SSN	Unnecessary for a donation; this is data collection for identity theft	Check what data is actually needed for the donation	Stop filling out the form
Absence of any organizer data	Without KRS, NIP, EIN, and address, nothing can be verified	Look for this data on the site and in the register	Do not donate until the organizer is established
Default checked recurring donation	One-time intent turns into a subscription	Read the text under the button and the payment summary	Uncheck the box, keep the confirmation
Photos known from another, earlier fundraiser	Misappropriation of someone else's story	Image search, look for the original source of the photo	Notify the platform, do not donate
Organization does not want to disclose how much goes to the cause	May be operating through an intermediary taking a large part of the donation	Only USA: BBB WGA report. Only Poland: OPP reports and fundraising report	Ask directly; lack of response is an answer

Only Poland: how to check an organization and a collection

What is a public collection in Poland

This is the crux and the most common source of misunderstandings.

According to the Act of March 14, 2014 on the principles of conducting public collections (consolidated text: Dz.U. 2020 item 1672), a public collection is the gathering of donations in cash or in kind in a public place for a specific, lawful purpose that falls within the sphere of public tasks and for religious purposes (art. 1 sec. 1). Public places are generally accessible places, in particular streets, squares, parks, and cemeteries (art. 1 sec. 2).

This definition leads to a surprising conclusion for many people: collecting money via bank transfer or online does not fall within the statutory definition of a public collection, as it is not the gathering of cash or donations in kind in a public place. Therefore, online collections on crowdfunding platforms are usually not reported on the public collection portal – and this does not mean they are illegal.

The Act additionally explicitly excludes from the concept of a public collection (art. 2) the gathering of donations:

• for religious purposes and church charitable-care activities, scientific, educational, and upbringing purposes, as well as for the maintenance of clergy and members of religious orders, if it takes place within church premises, chapels, and in places and circumstances traditionally accepted and in a traditionally established manner,
• through cash and prize lotteries,
• among a group of acquaintances of the person conducting the collection,
• among school youth on school premises, based on permission from school authorities,
• as part of friendly collections in a public office (with the permission of the office manager) or in another workplace.

In other words: the collection plate in church, a workplace collection for a gift, and a prize lottery at a fair are not public collections in the meaning of the Act, and no one has to report them.

Who can conduct a public collection

The organizer can be a non-governmental organization, an entity listed in art. 3 sec. 3 of the Act on public benefit activity and volunteering, or a social committee established specifically for the purpose of conducting the collection (art. 3). A social committee is established by a founding act by at least 3 individuals with full legal capacity, who have not been convicted of crimes against the credibility of documents, property, economic turnover, money and securities turnover, and tax offenses (art. 4 sec. 1).

It is important: a street collection can be organized by a group of neighbors, not just a large foundation. The mere fact that the organizer is a "social committee" rather than a well-known organization is not a warning signal.

How to check if a public collection is registered

A public collection can be conducted after it has been registered by the organizer and the information about the registration has been published by the minister responsible for public administration on the national electronic public collection portal (art. 5 sec. 1). The Public Collection Portal is managed by the Ministry of the Interior and Administration and is available at zbiorki.gov.pl.

Step by step:

1. Go to https://zbiorki.gov.pl/
2. Use the search engine. You can search by the name of the organizer, the name of the collection, the place of conduct, the description of the purpose, the collection number, and the status of the collection (planned, ongoing, completed).
3. If you have the collection number from the collector's identifier, enter that – it is the quickest way.
4. Check the description: purpose, method of conduct, place, start and end date, and anticipated costs covered by the collected donations. All this data must be included in the registration information (art. 10 sec. 2).

If someone is collecting with a can on the street and they are not listed on the portal, something is wrong. This does not automatically mean fraud – it could be a formal oversight – but you then have no confirmation of who is collecting and for what.

How to check the collector's identifier

The organizer is obliged to provide individuals conducting the collection with identifiers containing the first and last name of the collector and, in particular, information about the name, purpose of the collection, its organizer, and the public collection number (art. 8).

You have every right to ask to see the identifier and write down the collection number. An honest volunteer will accept this calmly – it is a normal part of their job.

How to find the collection report

The organizer is obliged to submit two types of reports, published on the same portal (art. 16):

• report on the conducted collection stating the value and type of collected donations – within 30 days of the collection's completion,
• report on the distribution of collected donations – for organizations within 3 months from the end of the financial year, and for social committees within 30 days from the end of the 12-month period from the end of the collection (and further, until the donations are distributed).

Collections lasting longer than a year are required to report every six months (art. 17). Information about the registration along with the reports is available on the portal for 10 years from the deadline for submitting the last report (art. 19).

There is one more mechanism, very practical for the donor: the minister refuses to publish information about a new collection if the organizer has not submitted the report from the previous one on time (art. 15 sec. 1 point 2). An organizer who regularly conducts collections and has them published must therefore have settled the previous ones.

What to read in the report: compare the amount collected with the amount distributed and the purpose. Check how high the collection costs were in relation to the total amount collected. Pay attention to whether the report is actually there or if only an announcement is present.

How to check a foundation or association in the KRS

Registered foundations and associations are entered in the National Court Register. A free search engine operates in the Court Registers Portal: https://prs.ms.gov.pl/krs

What to look for:

• whether an entity with that exact name actually exists,
• whether the KRS number provided on the collection page matches the number in the register,
• who is on the board and whether the composition has changed just yesterday,
• the registered office address – whether it is real and matches the one on the page,
• whether there is any information in the register about the opening of liquidation or declaring bankruptcy,
• whether there is an entry about the status of a public benefit organization.

The last point is important because the status of a public benefit organization is acquired upon the entry into the KRS of information about meeting the requirements specified in the Act on public benefit activity and volunteering (art. 22 sec. 2 of this Act, consolidated text: Dz.U. 2025 item 1338). The status of a public benefit organization is therefore not something that an organization can assign to itself in the description on the page – it is an entry in the register.

How to check the status of a public benefit organization and the list of those entitled to 1.5% of tax

An individual income taxpayer can donate 1.5% of their tax to a selected public benefit organization (art. 27 sec. 1 of the Act on public benefit activity and volunteering).

The list of organizations to which 1.5% can be donated is maintained electronically by the Director of the National Institute of Freedom – Center for the Development of Civil Society. The list includes organizations that have the status of a public benefit organization as of November 30 of the tax year and is published no later than December 15 of the tax year on the NIW's subject page in the Public Information Bulletin (art. 27a sec. 1). It contains the name, registered office, KRS number, and NIP of the organization (art. 27a sec. 4).

The list includes organizations that have submitted their annual substantive and financial reports on time and for which no information about liquidation or bankruptcy has been entered in the KRS (art. 27a sec. 3). This is a practical tip: being on the list means that the organization is up to date with its settlements.

You can find the list and reports of public benefit organizations on the NIW website:

• List of public benefit organizations – 1.5%: https://niw.gov.pl/opp/wykaz-opp/
• Reports of public benefit organizations: https://niw.gov.pl/opp/sprawozdania-opp/

What to look for in the financial report of a foundation

A public benefit organization prepares an annual substantive report and an annual financial report and makes them publicly available, including on its own website (art. 23 sec. 1, 2, and 2a).

When reading the report, look for four things:

1. Proportions – how much went to statutory activities (i.e., the purpose), and how much went to administration and fundraising. There is no magic boundary here, but a glaring disproportion is a reason for questions.
2. Continuity – whether the reports are for consecutive years or have gaps.
3. Compliance with the description – whether what the organization does in the report corresponds to what it promises in the appeal.
4. Salaries and transactions with related parties – not to be outraged that someone in the foundation earns money, but to check whether the scale is reasonable in relation to the scale of assistance.

Only USA: how to check an organization

IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search Tool

The basic free tool is the Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) managed by the IRS: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search

This tool allows you to check:

• whether the organization is eligible to receive tax-deductible donations (data from Pub. 78),
• filings from the Form 990 series and Form 990-N (e-Postcard),
• a list of organizations that have had their tax exemption automatically revoked (Automatic Revocation of Exemption List),
• letters defining the status (determination letters).

IRS Publication 526 directly directs taxpayers to this tool: "You can also check by going to IRS.gov/TEOS".

How to search: most likely by EIN, as names can be similar. An honest organization will provide the EIN without resistance. If they refuse to provide it, that is already information.

Pay particular attention to the list of revoked exemptions. An organization may exist, have a website and logo, and yet have had its status revoked – most often because it failed to file the required returns for three years.

What does 501(c)(3) mean and what it does not guarantee

The number 501(c)(3) refers to a provision of the Internal Revenue Code under which the organization is exempt from tax and for which donations may be tax-deductible.

What 501(c)(3) does not guarantee:

• that the organization is well-managed,
• that it spends money wisely,
• that it actually does what it promises in advertising,
• that its status is still current (it can be revoked),
• that the person who refers to it over the phone has any connection to it.

In other words: 501(c)(3) says something about tax status, not about quality or integrity. Verifying the status is the first step, not the last.

BBB Wise Giving Alliance Report

BBB Wise Giving Alliance evaluates charitable organizations according to 20 standards (BBB Standards for Charity Accountability), assigning each a rating: standard met, not met, or unverifiable. The standards include, among others, board oversight, expenditures, transparency, and the reliability of promotional materials.

• Standards: https://give.org/bbb-standards-for-charity-accountability
• Reports on organizations: https://give.org/charity-reviews/
• Tips for donors: https://give.org/tips-for-donors

An important note from BBB WGA itself: organizations that do not provide the requested information are described as "nondisclosure charities". BBB WGA advises caution regarding such organizations. The absence of a report does not prove dishonesty, but it also does not confirm anything.

State registration

In addition to the federal level, there is a state level, and this is the part that is most often overlooked.

In many states, an organization that collects donations from residents of that state must register in that state, and companies collecting donations on its behalf (professional fundraisers, professional solicitors) are subject to separate registration obligations. Requirements vary from state to state – in some states, oversight is conducted by the Attorney General, in others by the Secretary of State, and in others by the Department of Consumer Protection.

A catalog of offices overseeing collections in all states is maintained by the National Association of State Charity Officials: https://www.nasconet.org/resources/state-government/

Practically: find your state on this list, go to the website of the indicated office, and look for a search engine for registered organizations ("charity search", "charitable organizations"). When making a phone request for a donation, you can also directly ask whether the caller is an employee of the organization or an external company, and whether that company is registered in your state.

Where to check an organization – comparison Poland and USA

Register or tool	What it contains	Address	What it does not confirm
PL Public Collection Portal (MSWiA)	Registered public collections: number, organizer, purpose, place, date, anticipated costs, reports	https://zbiorki.gov.pl/	Does not include online collections and transfers; lack of entry does not prove fraud
PL National Court Register	Existence of a foundation or association, KRS number, board, registered office, liquidation, information about the status of a public benefit organization	https://prs.ms.gov.pl/krs	Does not say anything about the quality of operations or what the money is actually spent on
PL List of Public Benefit Organizations – 1.5% (NIW-CRSO)	Organizations entitled to receive 1.5% of tax: name, registered office, KRS, NIP	https://niw.gov.pl/opp/wykaz-opp/	Does not assess effectiveness or expenditure proportions
PL Reports of Public Benefit Organizations (NIW-CRSO)	Annual substantive and financial reports of public benefit organizations	https://niw.gov.pl/opp/sprawozdania-opp/	Applies only to public benefit organizations; a regular foundation without public benefit status is not listed there
US IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search	Exemption status, eligibility to receive deductible donations (Pub. 78), Form 990 and 990-N, list of revoked exemptions	https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search	Does not assess management, effectiveness, or integrity of current appeals
US BBB Wise Giving Alliance	Reports on organizations against 20 standards of accountability	https://give.org/charity-reviews/	Does not cover all organizations; lack of a report does not determine anything
US State offices (NASCO catalog)	Registration of organizations and companies collecting donations in a given state	https://www.nasconet.org/resources/state-government/	Requirements vary by state; registration is not a recommendation

How to Deposit Safely

Deposit Directly, Not Through a Link in a Message

The principle that eliminates most threats: do not click the link in the message, but find the organization yourself. Type its name into a search engine, go to the official website, and find the deposit details there. If the appeal is genuine, you will also find it on the official site.

If you are making a transfer, manually enter the account number from the organization's official website, rather than copying it from the message. Check if the recipient's name is the name of the organization, not the first and last name of a private individual.

Why a Card Offers More Options Than a Transfer and BLIK

It's not that a card is "magically safer." It's about what you can do afterward.

When paying by card, there is a dispute procedure with the card issuer (chargeback). It does not guarantee a refund, but it provides a way to appeal and a timeframe in which it can be initiated. A bank transfer and BLIK work differently: you initiate the transfer of funds, and once it is posted, recovering the money mainly depends on the goodwill of the recipient or criminal proceedings.

Practically: if you have a choice between a card and a transfer to an unknown account, choose the card. If you are donating to an organization you have known for years and have verified the account on its website, a transfer is fine.

More about recovering money after fraud: Bank and Internet Fraud in Poland: Phishing, Spoofing, Fake BLIK and Zelle Scam – Why the Bank Often Won't Refund Money.

Gift Cards and Cryptocurrency Are Warning Signs

We emphasize this separately because it is the simplest test in the entire guide. A request for a donation in the form of a gift card code or cryptocurrency indicates fraud in almost every case. No charitable organization conducts fundraising in this way, as such funds cannot be properly accounted for in the books or confirm the donor.

The same principle applies to money transfers to individuals you do not know personally and payments via peer-to-peer applications to unknown recipients.

How to Check the Payment Page Address

Four things to check in the address bar before entering your card details:

1. Main Domain – read the address from the right side: what is just before the first slash is the actual domain. In the address fundacja-serce.platnosci-online[.]com, the domain is platnosci-online.com, not fundacja-serce.
2. Compliance with the Organization – does the gateway belong to a known payment operator or to the organization itself.
3. Typos and Substitutions – replacing l with I, rn instead of m, added dashes, exotic endings.
4. Scope of Requested Data – the payment gateway asks for card details. It does not ask for your banking login and password, PESEL, or ID number.

A padlock next to the address only indicates an encrypted connection. A fraudster can also have a padlock. The padlock does not tell you who is on the other side.

How Not to Get Caught in a Subscription

• Before clicking the button, read the fine print below it and the payment summary.
• Look for the words "monthly," "cyclically," "recurring," "until canceled."
• Keep a confirmation of the payment (email or screenshot) showing the amount and type of payment.
• After a month, check your statement. If the charge repeats and you did not want it, contact the organization and simultaneously report the issue to the card issuer.
• If you support several organizations cyclically, review the list once a year and consciously decide what remains.

Request for Support from a "Friend" in a Messenger

This is a separate scenario because there is no "fundraiser" to check in the registry. There is only a message from someone you know.

Typical sequence: a friend's account is hacked, and the fraudster writes to everyone on the contact list. The content is always similar – an emergency, lack of access to the account, a request for a quick loan or deposit for a fundraiser, a request for discretion.

What to do:

1. Do not respond to the request in the same channel. Call the person at the number you have saved for a long time. Not the number provided in the message.
2. Ask a control question that only that person knows the answer to, and whose answer is not available on the internet or in chat history. Not "what is your dog's name," but something from a specific shared situation.
3. Be cautious with voice and video calls. Voices can be cloned today. The mere fact that "it sounds like him" is not proof. See: Voice Cloning and Grandchild Scam.
4. Warn other friends if you confirm the account takeover. Write to them through another channel.
5. Help that person recover their account. The first hour is crucial: Someone Took Over My Email, Facebook, or Instagram – What to Do in the First Hour.
6. Secure your own accounts so you don't become the next link: 2FA and Password Manager and a guide on passwords and passkeys (in preparation).

If the request is genuine, the friend will understand that you are calling back. If they are offended by the verification, that in itself is a signal.

For Seniors: Phone, Letter, and Can at the Door

This section is separate because older adults receive disproportionately many requests for donations – and this is not a coincidence. Anyone who has once donated over the phone ends up on lists that circulate among fundraising companies.

Phone

Rules worth repeating to loved ones:

• Never give your card number, CVV code, or SMS code over the phone. Even if the caller knows your name, address, and "previous donation."
• You have the right to hang up. Hanging up is not rude. You do not have to explain your decision.
• A sentence that suffices: "I do not make decisions over the phone. Please send information by mail." A legitimate organization will send it. A fraudster will disappear.
• Do not call back the number provided by the caller. If you want to verify, find the organization's number yourself.
• Ask directly: whether the caller is an employee of the organization or an external company, and what portion of the donation will go to the cause. Only in the USA: this question has practical grounding, as fundraising companies are subject to separate obligations in many states.
• Take notes. Date, time, organization name, caller's name, the number from which they called. This is material for reporting.

Letters and Packages

• Mail with "stickers, calendars, address labels" is often a marketing cost, not a gift. You are not obligated to donate just because you received something.
• A letter stating "confirmation of your declaration for 100 PLN," when you have made no declaration, is plain manipulation. Throw it away or keep it as evidence.
• Only in the USA: if you are tired of receiving packages, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance publishes a guide on how to remove your name from mailing lists of organizations: https://give.org/tips-for-donors

Can at the Door and on the Street

• Only in Poland: ask for identification, write down the collection number, and check it later on zbiorki.gov.pl. You do not have to donate on the spot.
• Do not let anyone into your apartment. Fundraising does not require entry inside.
• Do not show your wallet at the door.
• If you feel pressured, say: "I only support after verification" and close the door.

Conversation with Family

The most effective protection is not technology, but a previously established rule: no financial decision above a set amount is made without calling someone from the family. This relieves pressure from the older person, as it gives them a ready answer: "I need to ask my daughter, that's our rule."

See also: How to Protect Seniors from Internet Scams and Grandchild and Police Scams – How to Remotely Protect Parents in Poland.

Taxes – Only Confirmed Rules

Below is only what directly follows from regulations and official publications. This guide does not replace tax advice.

Only in Poland: Deduction of Donations

According to the Personal Income Tax Act (consolidated text: Dz.U. 2026 poz. 592), donations made for purposes specified in Article 4 of the Public Benefit Activity Act to organizations referred to in Article 3, paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Act, as well as for religious, blood donation, and several other purposes listed in the provision – in the amount of the donation made, but not exceeding 6% of income (Article 26, paragraph 1, point 9).

The total amount of deductions for these purposes cannot exceed 6% of income in the tax year, and donations made to individuals are not deductible (Article 26, paragraph 5, point 1).

This is very practical information: a payment to the account of a sick neighbor, no matter how needed, is not a donation eligible for deduction. A deductible donation is one made to an organization.

Required confirmation: the amount of the monetary donation is determined based on proof of payment to the recipient's payment account or their bank account other than the payment account (Article 26, paragraph 7, point 1). For non-monetary donations, proof with the donor's data and the value of the donation along with the recipient's declaration of acceptance is required (Article 26, paragraph 7, point 2).

Practical conclusion: cash donations to a can do not provide grounds for deduction, as there is no proof of payment to an account. If you care about the deduction, make a transfer.

Only in Poland: 1.5% Tax for OPP

This mechanism is completely different from the deduction of donations and should not be confused with it. A PIT taxpayer can allocate 1.5% of the tax calculated according to separate regulations to a selected public benefit organization (Article 27, paragraph 1 of the Public Benefit Activity and Volunteering Act).

The difference is fundamental: with a donation, you give your own money and reduce the taxable base. With 1.5%, you are only indicating where part of the tax you will pay anyway should go. It costs nothing, but it is also not a donation and is not accounted for in this way.

The organization can only be chosen from a list maintained by the Director of NIW (Article 27a). Funds from 1.5% can only be used for public benefit activities (Article 27, paragraph 2).

Attention to promotional materials: the law requires that the promotion of transferring 1.5% includes information about its financing from funds derived from the 1.5% tax (Article 27c). Advertising encouraging the transfer of 1.5% without such information should raise your awareness.

Only in the USA: When a Donation is Deductible

According to IRS Publication 526 (2025 edition), a donation can be deducted only if it was made to a qualified organization and only if the taxpayer itemizes deductions instead of taking the standard deduction. You can check the organization's status using the TEOS tool.

The key principle for our topic: donations to specific individuals cannot be deducted. The IRS states this explicitly – you cannot deduct payments made to individuals in need, and you cannot deduct them even if you give them through a qualified organization if you specify a particular person. The publication gives an example: you can deduct a donation to an organization for flood victims or hurricane victims, but you cannot deduct a donation intended to help a specific person or family.

This means that a typical fundraiser for the treatment of a specific person on a crowdfunding platform generally does not provide a deduction. This does not make it worse or suspicious – it simply is not a deductible donation.

Deduction limits are expressed as a percentage of adjusted gross income (AGI) and depend on what and to whom you are giving. Publication 526 discusses, among other things, the 60% AGI limit for cash donations to first-category organizations and limits of 50%, 30%, and 20% in other cases. Since the assignment of the limit depends on the type of donation and the type of organization, check your specific situation in Publication 526 or with a tax advisor.

Only in the USA: What Confirmation You Need to Have

This is quite clear and worth remembering.

• Every cash donation, regardless of the amount, requires keeping one of the documents: a bank record showing the organization's name, date, and amount (canceled check, bank statement, credit card statement, electronic transfer confirmation) or a receipt, letter, or email from the organization with its name, date, and amount of the donation.
• A donation of $250 or more additionally requires contemporaneous written acknowledgment (CWA) from the organization. For multiple donations of $250 or more, a separate acknowledgment is needed for each or one collective acknowledgment listing each donation with the date.
• When determining whether a donation is $250 or more, separate payments are not summed – each weekly payment counts separately.

Money donated to a can without a receipt does not meet this requirement.

What to Do Immediately After Donating to a Fake Fundraiser

Order matters. The first hours determine whether there is anything to discuss at all. No one can promise that the money will come back – but without these steps, the chance is zero.

In the first hour:

1. Secure evidence. Screenshots of the entire conversation, the appeal, the fundraising page, the URL (visible in the bar), the organizer's profile, payment confirmation. Take them before the page disappears, as it may vanish within a day. Also, note the date, time, and amount.
2. Contact the card issuer or bank. If you paid by card, report the transaction as disputed and request to initiate the chargeback procedure. If by transfer, ask the bank to attempt to stop or reverse the transfer – the chances decrease with each hour. Inquire about the deadline for filing a complaint and adhere to it.
3. Block your card if you provided its details on a suspicious site. Do not wait for a charge.
4. Change passwords if you entered any banking or email login information anywhere. Enable two-factor authentication.

On the same day:

1. Report the issue to the platform where the fundraiser was held. Crowdfunding services have procedures for reporting abuse. Some declare their own donor protection – for example, GoFundMe describes the "GoFundMe Giving Guarantee" as a promise of a full refund in rare cases when something goes wrong, covering donations of any amount for a year from the donation. This is a contractual commitment of the service, under the terms specified in its regulations, not a statutory entitlement – read the conditions on the service's website.
2. Cancel the recurring payment if it was established. Do this both on the service and with the card issuer.
3. Report to the authorities – see the section below.

Within a week:

1. Monitor your statements for the next few months. Card data once intercepted can be used later.
2. Warn others, but cautiously. More on this below.

How to Warn Others Without Slandering

This is a delicate matter. Publicly calling someone a fraudster before the matter is clarified can be slander, and you may be mistaken – sometimes a strangely conducted fundraiser is due to chaos, not crime.

Safe formula:

• Write about facts, not judgments. "I donated to this fundraiser, asked for the organizer's details, did not receive a response, reported the issue to the platform" instead of "they are thieves."
• Provide verifiable clues. "I did not find this organization in KRS," "the collection number does not appear on zbiorki.gov.pl," "EIN does not show up in TEOS."
• Do not publish others' personal data, photos, or account numbers.
• Report where it matters: to the platform and authorities, not just in comments.
• Do not share the appeal itself, even with a warning comment – the reach works in favor of the fraudster.

Most Common Mistakes

• Treating emotions as verification. The more moving the appeal, the more carefully it needs to be checked. A fraudster knows how to write.
• Checking the name instead of the number. Names can be forged in a minute. KRS or EIN numbers – not.
• Assuming that since the post is in a known group, someone has already checked it. No one has checked it.
• Clicking a link in a message "just to see." You can see by typing the name into a search engine.
• Confusing 1.5% with a donation. Only in Poland: these are two different mechanisms with different effects.
• Assuming that 501(c)(3) status or OPP means that the money will definitely go to the cause. It only means status.
• Cash donation to a can, then looking for grounds for deduction. Without proof of payment to an account, there are no grounds.
• Shame in reporting. Fraudsters prey on this. Reporting helps others, even if you do not get your money back.
• Ignoring the first recurring charge. One missed charge usually means twelve in a year.
• Answering and calling back unknown numbers. Every answered call confirms that the number is active.

Myths and Facts

Myth: If the fundraiser is on a large, well-known platform, it is verified. Fact: Platforms conduct checks and some offer their own guarantees, but setting up a fundraiser is inherently easy. Verification of the platform does not replace your own.

Myth: A fundraiser without registration is always a scam. Fact: Only Poland: The obligation to register applies to collecting cash or in-kind donations in public places. Online fundraising and transfers to accounts do not fall under this definition, and the law additionally excludes, among other things, church collections and workplace contributions.

Myth: A padlock in the address bar means the site is secure. Fact: The padlock indicates an encrypted connection. It does not say anything about who owns the site.

Myth: If an organization has OPP status or 501(c)(3), the money will definitely go to the cause. Fact: This is information about legal and tax status, not about the effectiveness or honesty of a specific appeal.

Myth: Every donation reduces taxes. Fact: Only Poland: The deduction has a limit of 6% of income and does not include donations to individuals. Only USA: The deduction is only available to itemizers and only for donations to qualified organizations, never to a specified individual.

Myth: If the caller knows my name, address, and donation history, they must be from a legitimate organization. Fact: This data circulates on lists and leaks. Knowledge of your data does not confirm anything.

Myth: A transfer can always be reversed. Fact: It cannot. You can try, but there is no guarantee. A card offers a better recourse.

Myth: Checking a fundraiser is insulting to the organizer. Fact: An honest organizer is used to questions and responds to them. Irritation in response to a question is a warning sign.

Myth: Reporting a scam is pointless because no one will do anything anyway. Fact: Reports build a picture of the phenomenon and lead to blocking sites and accounts. Even if your money does not come back, another person may not lose theirs.

Where to Report a Scam or Incident

Only Poland:

• Police – report a crime at any Police station or prosecutor's office. Website: https://policja.pl/ In an emergency: emergency number 112.
• CERT Poland – report an incident, including a fake payment site or phishing: https://incydent.cert.pl/ CERT Poland also publishes a list of warnings about fake sites: https://cert.pl/ostrzezenia_phishing/
• Your bank – dispute a transaction, block a card, attempt to stop a transfer.
• UOKiK – regarding practices that violate collective consumer interests and for consumer assistance: https://uokik.gov.pl/pomoc-dla-konsumentow
• MSWiA – regarding public collections and the fundraising portal: https://zbiorki.gov.pl/

Only USA:

• FTC – report a scam: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
• FBI IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center) – report an internet crime: https://www.ic3.gov/ and form: https://complaint.ic3.gov/
• State agency overseeing fundraising – find your state in the NASCO directory: https://www.nasconet.org/resources/state-government/
• Card issuer or bank – dispute a transaction.
• BBB Wise Giving Alliance – report a problem with an organization and check the report: https://give.org/

Always: report the matter to the platform where the fundraiser was held and to the social media platform if the appeal appeared on social media.

See also: The Biggest Scams Targeting the Polish Community in the USA and Phishing 2026 – fake IRS, USCIS, bank.

Key Principles

1. Most fundraisers are honest. The goal is wise giving, not giving up on giving.
2. Do not click links from messages. Find the organization yourself and go to its website.
3. Check the number, not the name. Only Poland: KRS and fundraiser number. Only USA: EIN in the IRS tool.
4. Gift cards and cryptocurrency as a form of donation are scams in almost every case.
5. Time pressure is a tool, not a circumstance. An honest fundraiser will wait until tomorrow.
6. The recipient of the transfer for charitable purposes should be the organization, not an individual.
7. A card offers more options for disputing than a transfer and BLIK.
8. Only Poland: cash collection in a public place requires registration and an identifier with the fundraiser number; online fundraising does not fall under this definition.
9. Only USA: 501(c)(3) status speaks to taxes, not to honesty or effectiveness.
10. Keep payment confirmations. They are needed both for taxes and for disputes.
11. A request for discretion when asking for money is a warning sign, not a sign of trust.
12. After a scam, act in this order: evidence, bank, platform, authorities.

Checklist

Five Minutes Before Donation

Minute 1 – Who is collecting

• I know the full name of the organizer (organization, community committee, or individual).
• I have an identification number: KRS (Only Poland) or EIN (Only USA).
• I know where the organization is based.

Minute 2 – Check in the register

• Only Poland: I checked the entity in the KRS at https://prs.ms.gov.pl/krs
• Only Poland: if it is a street collection, I checked the fundraiser number at https://zbiorki.gov.pl/
• Only USA: I checked the organization in TEOS and it is not on the list of revoked exemptions.
• Only USA: I checked if there is a report at https://give.org/charity-reviews/

Minute 3 – Content of the appeal

• The appeal specifies a concrete goal, not just emotions.
• There is no artificial deadline or countdown timer.
• Photos do not come from another, earlier fundraiser.
• The organizer answers questions and provides data.

Minute 4 – Payment method

• They do not ask for a gift card or cryptocurrency.
• The recipient of the transfer is the organization, not an individual.
• The payment site's address matches the organization's domain or that of a known operator.
• The form does not ask for PESEL, ID number, SSN, or bank password.
• There is no default selection for recurring payments (or I unchecked it).

Minute 5 – After the decision

• I saved the payment confirmation with the amount and date.
• I know whether this donation is deductible or not.
• I noted where and when I made the payment, in case of a dispute.
• In a month, I will check the statement for repeated charges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a fundraiser without registration on a public fundraising platform illegal?

Not always. Only Poland: The obligation to register applies to collecting donations in cash or in-kind in public places. Collecting money via bank transfer or online does not fall under the statutory definition of public fundraising, so it is not subject to this obligation. The law also excludes, among other things, collections for religious purposes within church grounds, raffles, collections among acquaintances, and workplace collections. However, collecting with a can on the street without registration is a situation where the donor has no way to verify anything.

How to check if a street collector is honest?

Only Poland: ask for an ID. The organizer is required to provide collectors with an ID containing the name and surname of the collector and information about the name and purpose of the collection, its organizer, and the public fundraising number. Write down the number and check it on zbiorki.gov.pl. You do not have to donate on the spot – you can donate via bank transfer after checking, which is actually more beneficial for tax purposes.

Will a donation to a sick neighbor reduce my taxes?

Only Poland: no. The PIT Act explicitly states that donations made to individuals are not deductible. Only USA: also no – the IRS indicates that donations to specific individuals cannot be deducted, even if they are made through a qualified organization, as long as a specific beneficiary is indicated. This does not mean that such help is worse. It just means it is not deductible.

What is the difference between 1.5% of tax and a donation to an organization?

Only Poland: these are two independent mechanisms. By donating 1.5%, you are only indicating where part of the tax you will pay will go – it costs you nothing extra and is not a donation. A donation deduction is a situation where you give your own money to an organization and reduce your taxable base, up to 6% of income. You can use both at the same time.

How do I know if an organization can receive my 1.5%?

Only Poland: from the list maintained by the Director of the National Freedom Institute. The list includes organizations with OPP status as of November 30 of the tax year and is published no later than December 15 in the Public Information Bulletin of NIW. It includes organizations that submitted their annual substantive and financial reports on time and for which no information about liquidation or bankruptcy has been entered in the KRS.

Does 501(c)(3) status guarantee that the organization is honest?

No. Only USA: this status speaks to tax exemption and that donations may be deductible. It does not say anything about the quality of management, the proportion of expenses to the purpose, or whether the specific appeal you see actually comes from that organization. The status can also be revoked – the IRS publishes a list of organizations that have had their exemptions automatically revoked.

What to do if I donated by card and then found out it was a scam?

Secure the evidence, then immediately contact the card issuer and report the transaction as disputed, requesting the initiation of the complaint procedure. Report the matter to the platform where the fundraiser was held and to the authorities. No one can promise a refund – the complaint procedure provides a recourse, not a guarantee. Deadlines are limited, so count in hours, not weeks.

Do crowdfunding platforms refund money donated to a fake fundraiser?

It depends on the service and its regulations. Some platforms declare their own donor protection – for example, GoFundMe describes the "GoFundMe Giving Guarantee" as a promise of a full refund in rare cases when something goes wrong, covering donations of any amount for a year from the donation. This is a contractual obligation of the specific service under its terms of service, not a universally applicable law. Always check the current terms on the official site of the service.

How to check if someone has stolen photos of a sick child for their own fundraiser?

Use image search to see where else these photos have appeared and when they first appeared. Also, look for the original fundraiser – if there is an older fundraiser with the same photos but a different account number, report the newer one to the platform and do not donate to either until the matter is clarified.

How much of my donation actually goes to the cause?

There is no single answer, but there are ways to check. Only Poland: the public fundraising report includes the value of collected donations and how they are distributed, and the registration of the fundraiser provides the anticipated costs covered by the collected donations; OPP reports are published by NIW. Only USA: reports from the BBB Wise Giving Alliance evaluate organizations against 20 standards, including expenses. When asking for a donation over the phone, directly ask whether the caller is an employee of the organization or an outside company.

Can I publicly warn others about a suspicious fundraiser?

You can and it is worth it, but stick to the facts. Write what you specifically checked and what you did not find (“the fundraiser number does not appear on the portal,” “the organization is not in the KRS”), rather than making accusations. Do not publish others' personal data or photos. Report the matter to the platform and authorities, as this is more effective than a comment. Do not share the appeal itself, even with a warning, as it increases its reach.

A friend is urgently asking for financial help in a messenger. What to do?

Verify through another channel before sending anything. Call the number you have saved for a long time, not the one from the message. Ask a control question about a specific shared situation. Remember that voices can be cloned, so a phone conversation alone is not confirmation. A request to keep the matter confidential is a typical element of a scam scenario.

I receive many calls and letters asking for donations. How to limit this?

Do not make decisions over the phone – ask for materials by mail and hang up. Do not call back the numbers provided by the callers. Only USA: The BBB Wise Giving Alliance publishes a guide on removing your name from mailing lists of charitable organizations. The same principle applies in both countries: one donation over the phone usually means more calls, so if you want to support an organization, do it yourself from its official site.

Does a cash donation to a collection box allow me to deduct the donation?

Only Poland: no, because the amount of cash donations is determined based on proof of payment to the recipient's payment account or their bank account. Cash in a collection box does not provide such proof. Only USA: also no, because the IRS requires maintaining a bank record or a receipt from the organization with its name, date, and amount – for every cash donation, regardless of the amount. If you care about the deduction, donate via bank transfer or card.

Sources

1. Ministry of the Interior and Administration – Public Collection Portal, https://zbiorki.gov.pl/ (accessed: 2026-07-27). A nationwide portal where public collection notifications and organizers' reports are published, along with a search engine by organizer name, collection number, location, and purpose.
2. Sejm RP – Act of March 14, 2014 on the principles of conducting public collections, Journal of Laws 2014 item 498; consolidated text: Journal of Laws 2020 item 1672, https://api.sejm.gov.pl/eli/acts/DU/2020/1672/text.html (accessed: 2026-07-27). Definition of a public collection, exclusions, circle of organizers, notification obligations, and reporting deadlines.
3. Sejm RP – Regulation of the Minister of Administration and Digitization of June 9, 2014 on the templates of documents concerning public collections, Journal of Laws 2014 item 833, https://api.sejm.gov.pl/eli/acts/DU/2014/833 (accessed: 2026-07-27). Templates for the founding act of the social committee, collection notification, and reports.
4. Sejm RP – Act of April 24, 2003 on public benefit activity and volunteering, Journal of Laws 2003 no. 96 item 873; consolidated text: Journal of Laws 2025 item 1338, https://api.sejm.gov.pl/eli/acts/DU/2025/1338/text.pdf (accessed: 2026-07-27). Status of public benefit organizations, reporting obligations of public benefit organizations, mechanism for transferring 1.5% of tax, and the register maintained by the Director of NIW.
5. Sejm RP – Act of July 26, 1991 on personal income tax, Journal of Laws 1991 no. 80 item 350; consolidated text: Journal of Laws 2026 item 592, https://api.sejm.gov.pl/eli/acts/DU/2026/592/text.pdf (accessed: 2026-07-27). Deduction of donations from income with a limit of 6% of income, exclusion of donations to individuals, and required proof of payment to the recipient's account.
6. National Institute of Freedom – Center for the Development of Civil Society – Register of Public Benefit Organizations – 1.5%, https://niw.gov.pl/opp/wykaz-opp/ (accessed: 2026-07-27). A list of public benefit organizations entitled to receive 1.5% of personal income tax.
7. National Institute of Freedom – CRSO – Reports of Public Benefit Organizations, https://niw.gov.pl/opp/sprawozdania-opp/ (accessed: 2026-07-27). Annual substantive and financial reports of public benefit organizations.
8. Ministry of Justice – Court Register Portal, National Court Register search engine, https://prs.ms.gov.pl/krs (accessed: 2026-07-27). Free verification of foundations and associations: KRS number, management, headquarters, liquidation, entry on the status of public benefit organization.
9. CERT Poland – Report an incident, https://incydent.cert.pl/ (accessed: 2026-07-27). Form for reporting security incidents, including fake payment pages and phishing.
10. CERT Poland – Warnings about fake websites, https://cert.pl/ostrzezenia_phishing/ (accessed: 2026-07-27). Published list of warnings about phishing websites.
11. Office of Competition and Consumer Protection – Help for consumers, https://uokik.gov.pl/pomoc-dla-konsumentow (accessed: 2026-07-27). Information on where consumers can seek free assistance and how to report unfair practices.
12. Police – homepage, https://policja.pl/ (accessed: 2026-07-27). Contact information for police units where one can report a crime.
13. Internal Revenue Service – Tax Exempt Organization Search, https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search (accessed: 2026-07-27, content confirmed by an archived copy from Internet Archive dated 2026-07-17 due to anti-bot blocking). Check exemption status, eligibility to receive deductible donations (Pub. 78), Form 990 filings, and list of revoked exemptions.
14. Internal Revenue Service – Publication 526 (2025), Charitable Contributions, https://www.irs.gov/publications/p526 (accessed: 2026-07-27). Conditions for deducting donations, exclusion of donations to specific individuals, required confirmations, and percentage limits relative to AGI.
15. Internal Revenue Service – Charitable contribution deductions, https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/charitable-contribution-deductions (accessed: 2026-07-27). General overview of the rules for deducting donations and references to publications 526, 561, and 1771.
16. Federal Trade Commission – Donating to Charity, https://consumer.ftc.gov/shopping-donating/donating-charity (accessed: 2026-07-27). FTC's guide section dedicated to safely making donations and recognizing charity scams.
17. Federal Trade Commission – Donating Safely and Avoiding Scams Infographic, https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/donating-safely-and-avoiding-scams (accessed: 2026-07-27). FTC informational material on safely making donations.
18. Federal Trade Commission – Report Fraud, https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ (accessed: 2026-07-27). Official channel for reporting fraud to the FTC.
19. FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) – https://www.ic3.gov/ and form https://complaint.ic3.gov/ (accessed: 2026-07-27). Reporting internet crimes, including fake online collections.
20. BBB Wise Giving Alliance – BBB Standards for Charity Accountability, https://give.org/bbb-standards-for-charity-accountability (accessed: 2026-07-27). Twenty standards of charity accountability and how they are evaluated in reports.
21. BBB Wise Giving Alliance – Charity Reviews, https://give.org/charity-reviews/ (accessed: 2026-07-27). Search engine for reports on specific charities.
22. BBB Wise Giving Alliance – Tips for Donors, https://give.org/tips-for-donors (accessed: 2026-07-27). Advice for donors, including on organizations that do not disclose data and on removing names from mailing lists.
23. National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO) – State Government, https://www.nasconet.org/resources/state-government/ (accessed: 2026-07-27). A catalog of state offices overseeing charitable collections with contact information for all states.
24. GoFundMe – GoFundMe Giving Guarantee, https://www.gofundme.com/c/safety/gofundme-guarantee (accessed: 2026-07-27). Description of the protection promised by the service for donors and conditions for refunds.
25. GoFundMe – Trust & Safety, https://www.gofundme.com/c/safety (accessed: 2026-07-27). Description of the verification mechanisms for collections used by the platform.