Charity & Disaster Relief Scams
Last updated September 18, 2026
The short answer
Someone is asking you to donate to a charity, disaster relief fund, or cause you care about. The request came by phone, email, social media, or even someone at your door. Before you give, make sure the charity is real. Scammers set up fake charities especially after disasters, during holidays, and around tragedies in the news.
How it works
- 1
A disaster or tragedy happens
After a hurricane, wildfire, earthquake, or crisis in the news, scammers quickly set up fake charities or crowdfunding pages to collect donations.
- 2
They make emotional appeals
They use real photos and videos from the disaster. They create names that sound similar to real charities, just different enough to avoid legal trouble.
- 3
They pressure you to give fast
"People need help now." They don't want you to take time to research the charity. They may ask for gift cards, wire transfers, or crypto donations.
- 4
Your money goes to the scammer
None of the money reaches victims. The fake charity website or crowdfunding page disappears after a few weeks.
Warning signs
- The charity name sounds similar to a well-known organization but isn't quite right
- They pressure you to donate immediately
- They only accept gift cards, wire transfers, or crypto
- They can't clearly explain how your donation will be used
- The charity doesn't appear on charity verification sites
- They thank you for a donation you didn't make and ask for another
- A GoFundMe or crowdfunding page with no clear connection to verified victims
What it looks like
Fake disaster relief after a hurricane
Within hours of a major hurricane, a Facebook page appears collecting donations for victims. The page shares real news footage and uses a name similar to the Red Cross. Hundreds of people donate. The page disappears a week later.
Crowdfunding for a "local family"
A GoFundMe campaign claims to raise money for a family that lost their home in a fire. The story is compelling and includes photos. But the campaign wasn't created by anyone connected to the family, and the money goes to the scammer.
"We're calling from your local fire department"
You get a call from someone claiming to represent your local fire department's fundraiser. They ask for a credit card donation over the phone. Real fire departments rarely solicit donations by phone.
What to do
- Look up the charity at give.org, charitynavigator.org, or guidestar.org before donating.
- Search the exact charity name online plus the word "scam" or "complaint."
- Give to established organizations you already know and trust.
- Donate through the charity's official website, not through links in emails or texts.
- If you gave to a fake charity by credit card, contact your card company about a chargeback.
- Report fake charities to the FTC and your state Attorney General.
Who gets targeted
Charity scams target generous people during emotionally charged moments. They spike after natural disasters and during the holiday giving season. Anyone who wants to help is a potential target.
Wanting to help people in need is a good thing. Scammers exploit that instinct, and checking before you give doesn't make you less generous.
By the numbers
- 662 charity fraud reports to the FBI in 2025, with $7.9 million lost
- FBI IC3, 2026
- $3.5 million of that was lost by people 60 and over
- FBI IC3, 2026
- 67.7% of donors say trusting a charity is essential before giving, but only 18.3% report high trust in charities
- BBB Give.org Donor Trust Report, 2026
Companies used in charity & disaster relief scams
These are the brands scammers hide behind in this scam. Each guide covers what that company will never ask you for, and how to report it to them directly.