Safe Giving in a Digital World: Cybersecurity Tips for Donors

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a reminder that protecting your finances goes beyond your bank account—it also includes how and where you give. At 316 Financial, we believe generosity should always be a blessing, not an opportunity for scammers to take advantage of your good heart. Sadly, charitable giving scams are on the rise, especially online. Here’s how to keep your giving safe and impactful.

1. Understand How Scammers Operate

Fraudsters often pose as legitimate charities, using emotional stories, fake websites, or even text messages to trick people into giving. They know that generous givers act quickly and trust deeply.

Red flags to watch for:

• Urgent pressure to give right now
• Requests for donations via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency
• Misspelled websites or unusual email addresses
• No clear information about how donations will be used

2. Verify Before You Give

Take a few extra minutes to confirm that an organization is legitimate. Trusted tools like Charity Navigator, the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, or GuideStar can help. If you’re unsure, contact the organization directly using a verified phone number or website.

3. Give Through Secure Channels

Always donate through a secure website (look for “https://” and the padlock symbol). Avoid clicking on links from unsolicited emails or social media messages, no matter how convincing they look.

4. Keep Records of Your Giving

Document your donations and keep receipts. Not only does this help with tax reporting, but it also ensures you can quickly identify if something doesn’t look right.

5. Trust, but Be Wise

As believers, we’re called to give cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7), but we’re also called to be wise stewards. Protecting your resources allows you to bless real ministries and causes that are truly making a difference.

Generosity is powerful when it reaches the right hands. This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, let’s commit to giving with both open hearts and wise minds. At 316 Financial, we’re here to help you steward your finances—and your giving—with confidence.