When a hurricane devastates a community, when wildfires displace thousands, or when the holiday season stirs our desire to give — scammers see an opportunity. They create fake charities, set up convincing websites, and start making calls, sending emails, and posting social media appeals that tug at your heartstrings and your wallet.

Charity scams are especially cruel because they exploit our best instincts. People want to help. Scammers use that generosity against them, pocketing donations that were meant for people in genuine need.

Fake Charities After Disasters

Within hours of any major disaster, fake charities begin appearing. After hurricanes, earthquakes, mass shootings, and other tragedies, scammers set up organizations with names that sound similar to well-known charities. They might call themselves the “American Red Cross Relief Fund” or “Hurricane Victims Support Network” — names designed to sound legitimate but that have no connection to real aid organizations.

These fake charities set up professional-looking websites, create social media pages with stolen photos of disaster damage, and start collecting donations through online payment forms. Some even set up GoFundMe or similar crowdfunding pages claiming to help specific victims.

The money goes nowhere near the people who need help. It goes directly into the scammer’s pocket.

Holiday Season Charity Fraud

The period from Thanksgiving through New Year’s is peak season for charitable giving — and for charity scams. Scammers know that people are in a giving mood and are more likely to respond to emotional appeals during the holidays.

You might receive phone calls from organizations you have never heard of, asking for donations to help homeless veterans, sick children, or local police and fire departments. The callers are often professional and persuasive. They may even send follow-up emails with official-looking receipts.

But many of these organizations either do not exist or spend the vast majority of donations on “administrative costs” and fundraising fees, with little or nothing reaching the people they claim to help.

⚠️ Warning: Never donate to a charity based solely on a phone call, email, or social media post. Always verify the organization independently before giving money. Scammers thrive on impulse donations.

Pressure Tactics Scammers Use

Fake charity solicitors rely on emotional manipulation and pressure to get you to donate before you have time to think. Common tactics include:

A real charity will never pressure you to donate immediately. They will give you time to think, provide written information about their organization, and welcome your questions.

How to Verify a Charity Before Donating

Before giving money to any organization, take a few minutes to verify it is legitimate. These free resources can help:

If a charity is not listed on any of these sites, that is a significant red flag. Established, legitimate charities are easy to find and verify.

💡 Tip: The safest way to donate is to go directly to the charity’s official website. Do not click links in emails or texts. Type the web address yourself or search for the organization by name.

Donate Directly, Not Through Intermediaries

One of the best ways to ensure your money reaches its intended destination is to donate directly to the organization. Instead of giving to someone collecting on the street or responding to a phone solicitor, go to the charity’s official website and donate there.

This eliminates the risk of middlemen skimming your donation and ensures you are actually giving to the organization you intended. It also gives you a verifiable receipt for tax purposes.

Protecting Older Family Members

Older adults are particularly generous donors and are frequently targeted by charity scams. If you have parents or grandparents who donate regularly, help them create a giving plan:

What to Do If You Donated to a Scam Charity

Your generosity deserves to reach people who actually need it. A few minutes of verification ensures your donation makes a real difference instead of lining a scammer’s pockets.

🛡️ Got a suspicious message? Check it free at NoScamForMe.com — takes seconds.