Is that charity appeal a scam? How to check before you donate
Fake charities emerge predictably after major disasters, conflicts, and crises — earthquakes, floods, wars, and disease outbreaks all trigger a surge of fraudulent appeals within hours. Scammers create sound-alike names (e.g. 'United Children's Relief Fund' vs 'UNICEF'), spin up websites, and run social media campaigns designed to intercept donations intended for legitimate organisations.
The deception also operates at the other end of the scale: persistent cold-call campaigns, door-to-door canvassers, and street collectors raising money for vague causes like 'police support' or 'veterans' where the money goes entirely to the operator rather than any recipient.
The desire to help after a tragedy is precisely what scammers exploit. Verification takes two minutes and ensures your donation reaches people who need it.
🚩 Red flags to watch for
- ▶The charity has a name very similar to a well-known organisation but isn't the real one.
- ▶You were cold-called, messaged on social media, or approached on the street with emotional pressure to donate immediately.
- ▶The charity can only accept cash, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency — legitimate charities accept card payments and have registered payment processors.
- ▶The charity's website was registered very recently (check the domain age).
- ▶No registered charity number is provided — in the UK, charities must be registered with the Charity Commission; in the US, 501(c)(3) status is publicly verifiable at IRS.gov.
- ▶The appeal uses dramatic stock photos, emotional language, and urgency but provides no verifiable information about how funds are used.
✅ What to do
- 1Verify before donating: in the UK, check the Charity Commission register at register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. In the US, search IRS.gov or Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org).
- 2Donate directly to the charity's official website, found via a search engine — do not follow links in emails or social media posts.
- 3Be cautious of emotional urgency. Legitimate charities are grateful for donations at any time — they don't need you to act in the next 10 minutes.
- 4Report suspected fake charities to the FTC (US), Action Fraud (UK), or your local charity regulator.
📣 Where to report (by country)
🇺🇸 United States
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Action Fraud
- Police Scotland — call 101
🇦🇺 Australia
🇨🇦 Canada
🌍 Everywhere else
- Contact your local police and your bank immediately
- If money was sent, ask your bank about a recall request — act within hours
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Common questions
The person collecting said they're raising money for local police. How do I check?
Ask for their identification and the charity's registered number. In the UK, collectors must carry a licence from the local authority; in the US, most states require registration for charitable solicitation. Look up the charity name on the official regulator's database before giving anything.
I already donated via a link shared on social media. Was it real?
It may have been — but verify. Find the charity's official website independently and check if your donation appears in your bank. If the destination account doesn't match the charity's published details, report it as suspected fraud.