Three easy steps to identify fake charities on Instagram

Ever since an account with a picture of an egg broke the world record for the number of "likes" on an Instagram post, the social media platform has been awash with accounts attempting to rival the egg's virality.

However, not all of the accounts are quite so innocuous as an account with a picture of an egg. One new, concerning trend is that of disingenuous efforts to gain likes and followers by capitalizing on the public's goodwill.

For example, one recent account asked Instagram users to follow it, claiming that it would donate meals to suffering Sudanese children for every follower it gained. Another one promised to plant a tree for each follower.

Although there are occasions in which these efforts are legitimate, the recent wave of fake charity accounts on Instagram is concerning.

These three steps will help you determine the legitimacy of potentially fake accounts:

1: Look for an established social media presence.

Many accounts that are involved in this new trend were recently created. If an account is older and has been posting about the cause for over one year, then it is more likely to be legitimate.

2: Look for outside coverage.

Outside sources such as Snopes, Charity Navigator, or even news organizations can be useful when it comes to verifying the legitimacy of a project. Make sure that you do your research before engaging with any organization.

3: Look for connections with official organizations.

Oftentimes, the crises that these accounts are claiming to combat are occurring on the other side of the globe, and yet the accounts themselves appear to be based in the United States. Ensure that the accounts have valid connections with official, local organizations to provide assistance. Note that some of these accounts are linking to other pages in their Instagram bios in order to trick you. Be sure to look at the official organization's profile to see if they have confirmed any potential partnership.

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Using these three steps will aid you in determining which organizations are worthy of your support (and which are fake accounts). There are also plenty of established, legitimate causes and organizations that you can support (especially local ones). As always, remember to research their records first before supporting them.