--- title: "Fake charity scams: how to check before giving | TapSafely" url: https://tapsafely.com/scams/fake-charity-scams source: TapSafely description: "After disasters and wars, fake charities appear within hours. Learn the signs of a fake appeal and how to check a charity before you donate." --- [Home](https://tapsafely.com/)/[Scam guides](https://tapsafely.com/scams/)/ Fake charity and disaster appeal scams # Fake charity and disaster appeal scams When disaster strikes, people want to help quickly. Scammers take advantage with fake charities, copied appeals and emotional crowdfunding pages that send the money to their own accounts. By the TapSafely editorial team · Updated 16 September 2026 · 3 min read ## In short After disasters and wars, fake charities appear within hours. Learn the signs of a fake appeal and how to check a charity before you donate. **Top warning signs:** Pressure to give immediately; Payment by bank transfer to a person, crypto or gift cards; A name that sounds almost like a well-known charity. **First thing to do:** Give through charities you already know, by typing their website address yourself. Example · Social media post · Illustrative, links disabled Emergency Relief Fund URGENT: children are trapped without food after the floods. Every minute counts. Donate now by bank transfer or crypto, 100% goes directly to families: relief-fund-help[.]online An example scam message with the warning signs highlighted. ## How the scam works Fake appeals appear on social media, messaging apps, email and even door to door, often within hours of a disaster. They use real photos, copy the names of real charities, or invent official-sounding ones. Crowdfunding scams tell a moving personal story that isn't true, or collect money in the name of real victims without their knowledge. ## Red flags to look for - **Pressure to give immediately.** Real charities welcome donations tomorrow too. - **Payment by bank transfer to a person, crypto or gift cards.** Registered charities offer secure, traceable ways to donate. - **A name that sounds almost like a well-known charity.** Small spelling changes and new web addresses are common. - **No registration details.** Genuine charities can usually be found on their country's official charity register. - **Vague claims about where money goes.** “100% goes directly to families” with no details of how. ## What to do if you get one 1. Give through charities you already know, by typing their website address yourself. 2. Check the charity on your country's official charity register where one exists. 3. Check the donation link with the [TapSafely checker](https://tapsafely.com/#check) before paying. 4. On crowdfunding sites, look for a clear connection between the organiser and the people being helped. ## If you already paid or shared details ### Act quickly. It makes a difference. 1. Contact your bank or card provider and explain that you donated to a fake appeal. 2. Report the page or post to the platform where you saw it. 3. Report it to the official fraud service in your country. More help: [what to do after a scam, and where to report it in your country](https://tapsafely.com/been-scammed). ## Questions people ask Are all crowdfunding appeals risky? No, many are genuine. Look for verified organisers, updates, and a clear link to the people or cause being helped. ## Official sources and further reading We check our guides against advice from government agencies and consumer protection bodies. - [Donation scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/donation-scams) (Scamwatch, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) - [Charity and donation fraud](https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/scams-fraudes/charity-donation-charite-eng.htm) (Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre) - [Donating Safely and Avoiding Scams](https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/donating-safely-and-avoiding-scams) (US Federal Trade Commission) ### Got a message like this? Paste the message or link Check it free ### Still unsure? Describe what happened and our AI assistant will help, in any language. Ask TapSafely ### On this page 1. [How it works](#how) 2. [Red flags](#red-flags) 3. [What to do](#what-to-do) 4. [If you already paid](#already-paid) 5. [Questions](#faq) 6. [Sources](#sources) ### Seen this scam? Your report helps warn people in your area. [Report it](https://tapsafely.com/report?category=unknown) ## Related guides [Guide ### Crypto and investment scams Guaranteed returns, deepfake celebrity ads and platforms that won't let you withdraw. How investment scams work and how … Read guide](https://tapsafely.com/scams/crypto-investment-scams)[Guide ### Phishing links and fake login pages Learn the one skill that stops most scams: reading who really owns a link. With examples of look-alike addresses and fak… Read guide](https://tapsafely.com/scams/phishing-links)[Guide ### Prize, lottery and giveaway scams You've won a phone, a lottery or a supermarket reward. You just need to pay a small fee. How prize scams and fake giveaw… Read guide](https://tapsafely.com/scams/prize-and-giveaway-scams)