Scammers have a long history of shamelessly taking advantage of charity efforts. Peoples' desire to support Ukraine in this critical time of need is no exception. While people who donate believe they are helping Ukraine, the donation is going straight into a scammer’s wallet. If you want to help the people of Ukraine, make sure to investigate charities and be on the lookout for scams.
HOW IT WORKS
Communication is received by email, text, social media, or by phone soliciting donations for the people of Ukraine from a charity that sounds familiar.
Scammers will pressure you to act quickly. They will use high-pressure pitches and request you to wire money.
You may see scammers try to lure people in with fake stories and ask for money.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Fake charities will often use names similar to real charities to make themselves look legitimate.
A real charity will take your donation when you are ready, don't feel pressured to act fast.
Less common forms of payment are a red flag, they may direct you to donate through a payment app, by text, or by purchasing gift cards and sharing the numbers off the back.
When it comes to fraud, vigilance is your number one weapon.
Legitimate charities, and you, lose out when a criminal intervenes.
HOW TO AVOID CHARITY FRAUD
If you’re looking to support through a donation, below are a few tips for how to do it safely:
Research charities before you donate. Stick to well-known organizations that have a history of work in the field and have some presence or partners in Ukraine.
Donate using the organization’s website or reach out to the charity directly for advice.
Be cautious of requests to wire money or send gift cards. Always opt for a credit card, which carries greater consumer protections than other payment forms.
Do not click on links or download attachments from unsolicited emails or social media messages, especially from unknown sources and those that add a sense of urgency or alarm. They may be attempting to download malware onto your device.
Also, be wary of messages even from trusted sources unless you verify that the message is authentic. Contact the source by other means than the one by which you received it, for example, by phone if you got it by email, etc.
Be skeptical of social media posts that promote a charity unless you verify that the organization is legitimate. The friend recommending it may not have done their research. Also the number of likes on a post doesn’t mean it's legitimate.
Don’t give in to pressure, scammers will try to use the urgency to rush you into donating.
If you want to help the people of Ukraine, make sure to investigate charities and be on the lookout for scams. You can also see if your local municipality, school or church has a donation program. Also check out well known organizations like the Red Cross and UNICEF.