With October being the month devoted to breast cancer awareness, businesses and individuals everywhere are marketing “pink” items in support of breast cancer programs. While the gesture may appear genuine, sadly some companies are more concerned with increasing
their profits instead of helping the cause. And others prey on human generosity, using it to scam money. Before you buy that “think pink” t-shirt or give money to someone collecting donations in the name of research, do your homework to make sure your donation
ends up in the right hands. Business Consumer Alliance (“BCA”) offers information on questionable practices to look out for and suggestions on handling donation requests.
Charity Scams. For every good cause, there is a scammer waiting to profit. Quite often scammers send emails or make phone calls claiming to be from a charity or non-profit trying to collect donations. Always be wary of unsolicited
contacts asking for money, personal, or credit card information. If you do not recall signing up to be on an organization’s mailing list, it may be a scam. Hang up on these types of calls and never click on links found in email solicitations from individuals
you do not know.
Requests for Donations. Outside of retail stores, door-to-door, and virtually anywhere, you may run into individuals soliciting donations on behalf of research and aid. Some may even claim to be survivors or claim to have close
members affected by the disease. Although your heart may be moved to give money, don’t be hasty. Instead, ask about the organization they are representing and check them out. If your review yields satisfactory results, donate to the organization directly.
Giving cash to strangers may not be the best way to help the cause.
Pink Ribbon Promotions. As mentioned earlier, businesses use this month to promote many pink ribbon products. Before purchasing, inquire about how much of the proceeds actually go to the cause. Some companies have come under fire
for “pinkwashing”. This is when companies or organizations promote pink ribbon products for the breast cancer awareness cause, but at the same time manufacture, sell, or produce products that are linked to the disease. As an alternative to buying pink ribbon
products, consider giving the money you would have spent on the item directly to a helpful organization or individual battling the disease.
Before donating, consider these tips:
- Obtain a BCA report to check on the organization. Also, verify any charities or non-profit organizations through sources such as the
IRS,
Guidestar and Charity Navigator.
- Visit the charity or organization yourself to ask about their program, their mission, how they provide services, and what their future goals are. Speak to the participants to get a firsthand idea of how the program is working.
- If possible, donate directly to the charity or organization so that they can maximize each dollar, instead of giving money to a third party.
- Keep records of all donations.
- If you want to help support patients battling breast cancer but don’t wish to make a monetary contribution, offer assistance in other ways, such as offering to provide a meal, helping with chores, or even providing transportation to doctor visits.
Your efforts to support such a worthy cause will surely help those that need assistance. Always remember to be wise about giving. All the good intentions in the world won’t help if your money goes to a scam or doesn’t reach the people in need. If you have
been contacted by a scam file a complaint with BCA.
About the Author:
Nicole Pitts is a Senior Business Analyst and Editor for Business Consumer Alliance. She has been with the organization for 12 years and specializes in report writing, business evaluation, and investigations. Nicole corresponds with businesses regarding
complaint trends and provides suggestions to help them alleviate problem areas that may cause concern. She also conducts advertisement reviews, reports on government enforcement actions, and assists government agencies and the media in obtaining information.
She enjoys reading, movies, and spending time with her family. Nicole may be reached by email at npitts@businessconsumeralliance.org.