Even in a normal year, scammers find ways to exploit generosity. But during the holidays, when dental practices are running holiday drives, supporting local charities, and looking to give back to their communities, cybercriminals go into overdrive.
Just a few years ago, a telefunding scheme conned donors out of more than $110 million by placing over 1.3 billion fake donation calls (FTC). Meanwhile, hundreds of social media accounts have been exposed for running fake charity pages—many targeting local businesses with emotional appeals and fraudulent links.
For Salt Lake City dental practices, falling for a fraudulent fundraiser doesn't just cost money. It risks your reputation with patients, staff, referral partners, and the tight-knit dental community. And worse, it exposes your systems to the same tactics used in phishing, ransomware, and business email compromise attacks.
Let’s break down how to protect your practice, your generosity, and your patients this holiday season.
How To Vet A Fundraiser Before You Donate
Before your front desk team or office manager donates in the name of your practice, confirm the fundraiser checks these boxes:
- Who created the campaign, and what is their connection to the recipient?
- How will the donations be used, and over what timeframe?
- Who controls the funds and how will they be withdrawn?
- Do family or known contacts of the recipient publicly support the campaign?
If answers are unclear or vague, that’s a signal to pause and investigate further.
Red Flags That Signal A Scam
Train your team to watch for these common warning signs:
- Incomplete or misleading details on the donation page
- Emotional stories with no documentation or verification
- Copy-and-paste content from other fundraisers
- Delays or misdirection of how the funds are used
If multiple red flags appear, report the page and do not donate.
Vetting Charities (Beyond Just GoFundMe Pages)
Even legitimate-sounding nonprofits can raise concerns. Before donating from your practice or promoting a charity drive in your office:
- Look for transparent annual reports and spending breakdowns
- Check how donations are split between programs and administrative overhead
- Search the charity's name with keywords like "fraud," "complaint," or "scam"
If you find negative patterns or missing data, it’s time to reassess.
Common Tactics Dental Practices Should Watch For
Dental offices are increasingly targeted in these donation scams through:
- Donation requests via gift cards, wire transfers, or crypto (always a red flag)
- Donation sites without HTTPS encryption (no “s” means no security)
- Messages pressuring immediate donations or claiming you’ve already pledged
- Emails spoofing local community organizations
Scammers are getting better. Well-designed websites, convincing emotional appeals, and fake community endorsements are all tools in their playbook.
Why Dental Practices in Salt Lake City Are At Risk
As a trusted healthcare provider in your neighborhood, your practice's name carries weight. If you post about a donation on your website or social media, patients and partners may follow your lead. That’s why a single mistake—like supporting a fake charity—can hurt more than your bank account.
And here’s the real kicker: these scams use the same playbook as the phishing emails, fake invoices, and cloud-based login attacks that target your practice all year long. Educating your staff on donation scams is another layer of cybersecurity for dental practices.
How To Protect Your Practice (And Your Generosity)
Protect your practice and your holiday giving with these five steps:
- Set a Donation Policy: Document when, how, and under what conditions your practice donates. Require owner or manager approval.
- Train Your Team: Hold a quick meeting or email update about how to spot fake fundraisers.
- Use Trusted Platforms: Always donate via a charity’s official website—not through emailed or social media links.
- Verify Public Giving: If your practice promotes donations publicly, triple-check the organization’s legitimacy.
- Monitor Impact: Reputable charities provide reports or updates on how funds were used. If you don’t see one, ask.
Keep The Holidays Generous – And Safe
The holiday season is a time for giving, not second-guessing. But as a dental leader in Salt Lake City, your generosity must be paired with caution. That’s how you protect your patients, your people, and your practice.
At Qual IT, we provide cybersecurity and managed IT services for dental practices across Salt Lake City. From scam awareness training to HIPAA-compliant network security, we help you stay protected—without the tech overwhelm.
Click here to book your free network assessment
Because the best gift you can give your practice this season is peace of mind, powered by IT support that actually understands how dental offices work.
