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.
Whenever any ngo call me for donations, I check their phone number on Truecaller. And put their NGO name of Google to verify
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.