Here are some ways to find fake NGOs:
- Every genuine NGO must be registered under Societies Registration Act, Trust Act, or Companies Act (Section 8 Company).
- Ask for their registration certificate — it’s your right.
- If they only have a temporary address or work entirely on WhatsApp or social media with no traceable place, be cautious.
- Do they have a working phone number and official email ID (not just Gmail, but a domain email looks more credible)?
- Search their address on Google Maps — see if it actually exists.
- Genuine NGOs issue official donation receipts with their registration number and PAN.
- Many good NGOs publish annual reports and audit reports on their websites.
- Google the NGO’s name with words like scam, fraud, or fake.
To identify a fake NGO, check its registration, financial transparency, the impact of its programs, and its online presence.
Check that it has a valid registration number, annual reports, and evidence of successful projects.
Don’t hesitate to ask for more information and be wary of urgent donation requests.
Whenever any ngo call me for donations, I check their phone number on Truecaller. And put their NGO name of Google to verify