Report to the American Red Cross
Last updated September 18, 2026
The short answer
Report Red Cross impersonators on the Concern Connection Line
Posing as a Red Cross representative to collect money is a federal crime, and the Red Cross runs a confidential hotline for reporting it. Disaster-related fraud has a separate route through the Department of Justice.
What they handle
- People soliciting donations while posing as the Red Cross
- Calls claiming a deployed family member has been arrested
- Demands to pay for shipping a service member's luggage home
- Fake Red Cross job offers to people who never applied
How to file a report
- 1
Call the Concern Connection Line
The Red Cross runs a 24-hour, confidential, toll-free hotline on 1-888-309-9679 for reporting someone posing as a Red Cross employee.
- 2
Use the disaster fraud route after a disaster
The National Center for Disaster Fraud, a Department of Justice programme, takes reports on (866) 720-5721 or at disaster@leo.gov.
- 3
Send phishing to the FBI
The Red Cross points phishing emails to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
- 4
Verify any request about a service member
The Red Cross does not call asking for payment over a deployed relative. Contact it directly on a number you looked up rather than the one that called you.
What you'll need
- The phone number, email or address used
- What they claimed and what they asked for
- The amount and method, if you paid
What to expect
The hotline is confidential. Because impersonating the Red Cross is a federal offence, these reports feed law enforcement rather than a customer service queue.
Frequently asked questions
Someone said my deployed son was arrested and the Red Cross needed money. Real?
No. It is a documented scam aimed at military families. The Red Cross does not call asking for payment about a deployed relative. Call the Red Cross yourself on a number you looked up.
Company guide
American Red Cross scams
Knowing which scam you were hit by makes the report better. This is how scams impersonating American Red Cross actually work, what the company will never ask you for, and the warning signs to recognise next time.
Read the guide →