Summary:

Washington State officials are warning consumers to be wary of scam charities using tap-to-pay technology to solicit fraudulent donations during the holiday season. The Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General's Office recently received reports of a group falsely claiming to represent the Youth Upliftment Society, which is not registered as a charity with the state or recognized by the IRS. The group solicited donations and sold music CDs, but donors were later charged unauthorized amounts far exceeding the agreed amount. Officials advise avoiding tap-to-pay donations or, at minimum, reviewing the payment amount before tapping.

Washington consumers are being warned to watch out for scam charities using tap-to-pay technology to solicit fraudulent donations during the holiday season. The Washington State Attorney General’s Office and the Office of the Secretary of State are urging donors to verify the legitimacy of organizations before giving, especially as International Charity Fraud Awareness Week begins and Giving Tuesday approaches.

The Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s Office recently received multiple reports involving a group claiming to represent the Youth Upliftment Society. The individuals were seen near the Seattle waterfront soliciting donations and selling music CDs. The Youth Upliftment Society is not registered as a charity with the Washington Secretary of State, nor is it recognized by the IRS as a public charity. The group is organized as a for-profit limited liability company.

According to reports, the solicitors were young, well-dressed men who asked for modest donations in exchange for music CDs. When donors agreed to use tap-to-pay via the solicitors’ smartphones, they did not review the transaction details. Later, they discovered unauthorized charges far exceeding the agreed amount. In one case, a donor who intended to give $15 was charged $4,800. Another donor expected to give $20 and later found a nearly $5,000 charge.

Officials advise avoiding tap-to-pay donations or, at minimum, reviewing the payment amount before tapping. Donors are encouraged to research organizations in advance using the Secretary of State’s charities search page or third-party platforms such as the Better Business Bureau’s Give.org, CharityWatch, or Charity Navigator.

Attorney General Nick Brown said consumers should feel safe supporting causes they care about. “Giving back to the community is vital and strengthens the fabric of our state,” said Brown. “But Washingtonians should be able to give to the causes they care about without having to worry their money will be stolen. These tips will help protect people from fraud.”

The campaign, promoted on the Attorney General’s website and social media under the message “Pause. Check the Cause,” encourages donors to take two critical steps before giving: pause to avoid impulsive decisions and check the cause to confirm that the organization is registered and tax-exempt.

Common charity scams include spoofing or impostor scams, phishing attempts via email or text, pop-up charities formed around disasters or crises, and payment-method scams that exploit technology or untraceable transactions.

To guard against fraud, donors should:

• Ask for an organization’s employer identification number (EIN) and verify it through state and federal databases.

• Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails or messages and instead visit charity websites directly.

• Be cautious with crowdfunding or social media donation requests.

• Check the other party’s device for the correct payment amount before using tap-to-pay.

• Avoid insecure payment methods such as gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.

• Never share personal or financial information over the phone.

More information and resources are available through the Better Business Bureau and the Washington Secretary of State’s website.