Your stopped by someone in a mall and its a charity. What do you do?

[Anonymous]

I was walking through the mall today and I was stopped by someone from a charity. I tried to ignore them but gave in. Guy was nice and all but could tell he was just trying to get me in the mood to donate. Ended up giving him some personal details which I shouldn't have such as name and birthday. Then was wanting me to sign up for a regular donation which was $30 a day and can cancel anytime. I was a bit reluctant at this point so when he asked for credit card details I used a card I knew didn't have enough credit on. He was continuing to chat to me while the credit payment was processing, then it said payment unsuccessful. He asked to check card details again which I showed him and it failed again. He asked if this is the card I normally use, which I said yes and was unsure why it wasn't working. Eventually I said I had to go and sorry card didn't work. What do you do?

Ignore them and keep walking

Stop for a while but say your busy or late for work / appointment

Give in and donate

Be straight up and say you not donating

Make excuses saying no money or lost your wallet

Other

[jennifer_bloom]

I know a lot of charities are scams, so these are the types of charities I avoid

1 - Charities with no membership profile or personality database for donors

2 - Charities that use so many money collectors, it would far outweigh the memberships they sell

3 - Charities with no public website or a very simple one

4 - Charities that hire sponsor collectors instead of using volunteers

5 - Charities that use good looking young sponsorship collectors and not experienced and skilled sponsor collectors

6 - Charities that use corrupt practices to get donors such as complimenting you on your hair and clothes to boost your ego, continuing the conversation when you express disinterest, or using pressure by calling after a small donation or calling more than once or not being polite about how they conclude the conversation when you express an unwillingness to donate, or charities that sell your information to others: I once donated to a charity and within weeks, I started getting scam calls from Chinese shop owners and nobody else knew the owner of the phone number was Chinese cause I got the phone number from another person who was white and only my friends from bible study had my number and maybe a few family friends too.

[Flower7]

This seems like a scam. The amount is too much, for one thing. That adds up to 900 a month, which is more than many people’s rent. And walk-by charities usually only take cash donations, not get people’s credit card info, or even their name or date of birth. Sounds like they were trying to do identity theft.

[Asker]

Actually that's a typo, should be $30 a month or $1 a day

[Anpu23]

If its a charity I support I usually give a little something. But I would not agree to a regular paymen t. If its not one I support I would politely tell them no, if they push I would explain that they are not one I support and if they push harder I would explain why I don't support them. Also I have no problem saying that I can't afford something right now.

[HighValue]

I tell them that I do have money to spare, but I won't donate because I don't want to help anyone that hasn't helped me in the past. I tell them that in my lifetime, very few people have ever helped me with anything so I won't help them either.

[OlderAndWiser]

I automatically respond, "I do all of my charitable giving through my church" (and that is a true statement.) I have never had anyone try to weasel their way around that declaration.

[Guy13]

Identity Scam…. check your accounts and change account numbers….🤷🏻‍♂️

[Asker]

I'm pretty sure it was a legit charity as they had proper setup in a mall.

[Guy13]

Cool. I am a landlord and since COVID the identity theft has been off the wall on credit and background. Good news for you !!

[LiamJHayden]

@Asker it can be a legit charity, but you do not know if the person there is legit. Cash might be skimmed, check account and routing numbers can be lifted, etc. In fact if you donate via check and the person is a predator, he now has your home address.

[Guy13]

@LiamJHayden I’m talking full identity theft including new credit cards, paying 12 months of rent on it, and turning out to be a whole different person than the international criminal and credit showed.

[LiamJHayden]

I never donate at those. I ask for a card or info on the charity. After I get home I look up the charity. If its overhead is low and it is something I can get behind I might donate.

[slatyb]

I keep walking. They aren't entitled to a response.

[Ryfyle]

Stare them in the eyes and refuse. Namely with a suspicious glare. The "I can see the blood on your hands " Stare.

[Anonymous]

They aren’t allowed to do this where I am. It doesn’t happen.

[Pete671]

I tell them I on Universal Credit (a means tested benefit)

[Anonymous]

I'll show them my stomach with visible ribcage and ask them " what are you expecting from me? "

[faizanfreed]

I totally ignore that because it's more like collecting tax then charity.

[Agape93]

Ignore them. I don't do charity.