Greensboro, NC – With the holiday season approaching and Black Friday promotions already underway, the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to be on high alert for fake donation drives circulating across text messages, emails, and social media. The department issued a warning Sunday reminding the public that scammers often impersonate charities during the busiest giving season of the year.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, residents have reported receiving links labeled “Donate here!” that redirect users to fraudulent websites designed to steal financial information. Officials say these scams frequently appear as fake food drives, disaster relief efforts, or holiday charity campaigns—tactics timed to take advantage of seasonal generosity.
Deputies advise residents to verify any charity before donating. The safest approach, they say, is to visit the organization’s official website directly rather than clicking links sent in unsolicited messages. Manually typing the charity’s URL and contacting them through published phone numbers are recommended methods of confirming legitimacy.
The Sheriff’s Office also warns residents to watch for red flags, including pressure to donate quickly, requests for gift cards, payment through wire transfers, or messages containing spelling errors and unfamiliar senders. These are common signs of fraudulent activity.
As holiday shopping ramps up, authorities stress that scammers will increase their attempts to deceive residents across multiple platforms, including social media, email, and text messaging. Protecting personal and financial information remains essential as cyber criminals target busy shoppers and charitable donors.
Residents can learn more about scam prevention resources and reporting procedures by visiting GuilfordCountyNC.gov/Anti-Scam.
Officials say staying informed and exercising caution can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to seasonal scams.
