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Everyday life & services

Charity and disaster donation scams

Disaster, illness or community appeals misuse charity names and emotional images to redirect donations to private accounts.

See response steps Share this in a workshop
An older woman using a phone beside a laptop outdoors

If you have one minute

Pause, then verify independently.

Unverifiable organization or purpose

Before paying

Donate through the charity’s official channel

See verification steps →

If you paid or shared details

Stop further donations and sharing

See response steps →

Start with these three signs

  • Unverifiable organization or purpose
  • Pressure without complete information
  • Only opaque personal payments accepted

How the situation unfolds

  1. Contact

    Shared posts, unsolicited calls or disaster donation messages.

  2. The lure

    Urgent relief needs your immediate transfer to help affected families.

  3. The demand and outcome

    Compassion and breaking events discourage checks. Shared posts may be unverified, with unclear organizers and fund destinations.

Verify these things before paying

  1. Donate through the charity’s official channel
  2. Verify project, recipient and use of funds
  3. Check even when a friend shares the appeal

Already engaged or paid?

  1. Stop further donations and sharing
  2. Notify the payment provider and impersonated charity
  3. Keep appeal materials; report to authorities or police

Contact your payment provider and local police promptly. The responsible institution must confirm whether a payment can be stopped, disputed or returned.

Keep these records

Original appeal and link
Claimed organization and project
Payment code and account details
Donation receipts and messages

Keep originals and organise working copies. Never give strangers verification codes, banking passwords, private keys or seed phrases.

Original references

This page summarises public prevention guidance to help recognise methods. It is not an enforcement conclusion about a particular incident. Check the source page for its original title. Procedures and reporting routes vary by jurisdiction. Compiled October 2026.

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