Charity & Disaster Relief Scams
Charity scams exploit people's generosity, particularly after natural disasters and high-profile tragedies. Scammers create fake charities or impersonate well-known organizations to divert donations.
Táticas comuns
- • Creating fake charity websites with names similar to well-known organizations (e.g., "American Red Crossing Relief Fund" instead of "American Red Cross")
- • Door-to-door or phone solicitations immediately following a natural disaster, before legitimate charities have fully mobilized their outreach
- • Fraudulent GoFundMe, GiveSendGo, or other crowdfunding campaigns with fabricated stories and stolen photos of disaster victims
- • Social media posts with emotional images and urgent pleas for donations via personal Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal accounts rather than established charity platforms
- • Impersonating real charity workers by wearing branded clothing and carrying fake ID badges during door-to-door collections
- • Setting up fake charity websites with SSL certificates and professional designs that accept credit card donations, which are either stolen or used for the scammers' personal benefit
Como identificar
- The charity has a name very similar to — but not exactly the same as — a well-known organization, using slight variations in spelling or added words
- The solicitor pressures you to donate immediately and discourages you from researching the organization first
- Donations are requested via wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or personal payment apps rather than through the charity's official website
- The charity cannot provide an EIN (Employer Identification Number) or is not listed on charity verification sites like Charity Navigator, GuideStar, or the BBB Wise Giving Alliance
- The crowdfunding campaign has vague details about how the funds will be distributed, no updates from a verifiable organizer, and the organizer's account was recently created
- The solicitor thanks you for a previous donation you never made, then asks you to donate again — this is a tactic to make you feel already committed
Como se proteger
- Donate directly through the official website of established charities — type the URL yourself rather than clicking links in emails or social media posts
- Verify any charity before donating by checking Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org), GuideStar (guidestar.org), or the BBB Wise Giving Alliance (give.org)
- Be cautious with crowdfunding campaigns — only donate to campaigns run by people you personally know or that are verified by the platform
- Never donate via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to charitable causes — use credit cards or checks so there is a record and the ability to dispute charges
- Take your time — legitimate charities will accept your donation next week just as gratefully as today, and scammers rely on emotional urgency to prevent you from doing due diligence
- If solicited by phone, ask for the charity's official name, address, and EIN, then verify independently before making any contribution
Exemplos reais
In the United States, after a major hurricane, a fake charity website nearly identical to the American Red Cross site collected over $500,000 in donations before being taken down — the FTC warned donors to verify charities at charitynavigator.org before giving.
In the UK, fraudulent charity collectors wearing fake British Heart Foundation vests went door-to-door in London neighborhoods after a terror attack, collecting cash donations and contactless card payments that went directly to criminal organizers.
In Australia, after devastating bushfires, dozens of fake GoFundMe campaigns appeared using stolen photos from ABC News coverage — some campaigns raised over AUD 150,000 before the ACCC intervened and the platform froze the funds.
In Japan, following the Noto Peninsula earthquake, fake charity accounts on Twitter/X and LINE solicited donations via Japanese bank transfers and cryptocurrency, using stolen images from NHK broadcasts — the National Consumer Affairs Center issued emergency warnings.
In East Africa, fake NGO websites mimicking legitimate organizations like the Kenya Red Cross and UNICEF solicited M-Pesa donations during drought relief efforts — the funds went to personal accounts rather than to affected communities.
In Turkey, after the earthquake disaster, social media posts with graphic images urged followers worldwide to donate via personal PayPal and Western Union accounts rather than through verified organizations like Kizilay (Turkish Red Crescent) — the accounts were created hours after the disaster struck.