Fake charities and phony fundraisers are stealing millions from people who think they're helping others, so donors need to verify before giving.

• Scammers pose as charities on social media and crowdfunding sites to pocket donations meant for people in need.
• Nearly $4 million in charity and fundraising fraud has been reported in Hawaii over two years; FBI figures put the national yearly loss near $96 million.
• Crooks jump on disasters like the recent Colombia earthquakes and the Spokane, Washington fires to run fake relief campaigns.
• Trusted platforms like GoFundMe don't guarantee a fundraiser is real — imposters often run unapproved campaigns there.
• Before giving, check the organizer on official sites like BBB.org or Give.org, follow how the money is handled, and report anything suspicious.

Outlook: Scam attempts will keep spiking around each new disaster, so verifying who you give to remains the best defense.