7 On Your Side: Avoiding fake charity holiday scams

NEW YORK (WABC) -- One great part of the holidays is giving back to those in need, whether that be through money, donating to coat or toy drives, or just volunteering.

Charities can always use the help. However, if you do decide to give, make sure to do it safely.

This winter, be on the lookout for fake charity scams.

7 On Your Side has some red flags to watch out for:

If you receive a cold call, text or email to give to a cause out of the blue, that's suspicious.

If there is a pressure to act quickly, that's another red flag

If a supposed charity reaches out and gives a heart-wrenching example, long on emotion but short on detail, of what their organization actually does, with no physical address or phone number given, that's a scam.

If they request payment through a gift cards, CashApp, Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies for payment, beware. No reputable organization will do that.

Here's some good advice: give locally to an organization that your friends, family or place of worship is involved with. That way you see exactly where your money is going, and the impact can be seen and measured right away.

Use a site like Charity Navigator or give.org that will vet and rate non-profits. You can also browse causes that are near and dear to your heart.

Remember to take a beat and do a little bit of research to make sure your kindness makes a difference, and if you can't open your wallet, open your heart.

Plenty of charities need volunteers to stock shelves, or spend time with those in need. That's the kind of impactful charity that won't cost you a dime.