Fake Charities: How Not to Fall for a Trick

Scams in Charity

Fake charities are one of the common methods of fraud related to charity. Fraudsters create fake organizations, pretending to be real charities, to illegally obtain money. They use emotional stories, fake photos, and loud calls for help to gain the trust of victims.

Ways to implement fraudulent schemes:

1. Creating fake websites that mimic the official resources of real charities.
2. Using photos of strangers or real sick people without their knowledge.
3. Launching false fundraisers on social media with fake reviews.
4. Organizing fake street campaigns where collectors supposedly represent a charity.

Such scams can be timed to coincide with crisis events, natural disasters, or high-profile medical cases. Fraudsters actively use emotional pressure, forcing people to donate impulsively without verifying the information.

Criminals may also act on behalf of well-known charities, creating pages with similar names or altering details in advertisements. Sometimes, bots are used to spread false appeals en masse in the comments of charity organizations' posts.

Donation Scams and Fundraising Fraud 

Fundraising fraud covers various formats of scams, from sending false appeals to creating fictitious companies.

Typical schemes: 

1. Using messengers and social networks for mass appeals for help.
2. Posting fake stories with requests for donations on crowdfunding platforms.
3. Spreading false messages on behalf of well-known charity organizations.
4. Attracting stooges to create fake video appeals.

Scammers can attract people to donate using fake news. In such cases, sites designed to look like well-known media are created, publishing false stories about fundraising for disaster or illness victims.

Some fraudsters use special services that allow for the forgery of transfer receipts. They show victims "confirmation" of donations from well-known individuals or large companies, thus encouraging them to transfer money.

The main sign of a scam is the lack of transparency. If a charity does not publish reports, avoids providing a legal address, or asks to transfer money to personal accounts, this is a reason to be cautious.

Fake Aid Campaigns and Volunteer Scam

Some scammers organize fake aid campaigns, collecting money supposedly for the treatment of seriously ill people or support for victims. They create pages similar to official ones, use fake details, and mimic the style of real charities.

Common methods: 

1. Mass mailings with urgent requests to transfer money.
2. Placing advertisements with loud appeals.
3. Conducting fake charity auctions and marathons.

There is also a volunteer scam, where fraudsters collect personal data under the pretext of recruiting volunteers. Most often, potential volunteers are asked for passport details, home addresses, and bank information, which are then used for fraudulent activities.

In some cases, scammers offer "jobs" in charity organizations, where the new "employee" must first pay for registration, training, or uniforms. After receiving the money, the fraudsters disappear.

Another scheme is collecting cash donations on the streets without documents confirming the authenticity of the charity. Fraudsters may use bright posters, children's photos, and "volunteer" vests to gain the trust of passersby.

How to Verify a Charity

Before making a donation, it is worth ensuring the authenticity of the organization. The verification includes several steps:

1. Analyzing the charity's official website – the presence of statutory documents, reports, contact information.
2. Checking registration information – charities should be registered and have identification data.
3. Comparing details – money should only be transferred to official accounts listed on the charity's website.
4. Studying reviews – searching for information about the charity in independent sources.
5. Checking the website's domain – fraudsters often create new sites with similar names, which can be checked through domain analysis services.

If fundraising is conducted in public places, volunteers must have documents confirming their connection to the organization. In case of doubt, it is better to refrain from donating and transfer money directly to a verified charity.

It is also worth checking whether the organization participates in government support programs, cooperates with official institutions, and publishes detailed reports on fund expenditures.

Paying attention to these details will help avoid fraud and ensure that donations are truly directed to those in need.