Charity scams: How to spot, avoid, and report donation fraud

What is a charity scam?

A charity scam is the act of convincing people to give money by pretending to be a charity organization. Scammers often impersonate well-known charities, set up convincing fake websites, or even claim you’ve already donated to pressure you into parting with your money.

Charity scams are a form of online scams that spike during natural disasters, public crises, or the holiday season — periods when people are most willing to help. The scammers’ goal is simple: To steal your money and personal details before you realize the charity doesn’t exist or does no real work.

How do charity scams work?

Charity scams follow a predictable playbook designed to exploit your emotions and get your money — fast. Scammers begin by creating a sense of crisis and urgency by piggybacking on real disasters, tragedies, or emotional causes like helping military veterans or sick children. They reach out through phone calls, emails, social media ads, fake websites, or even knock on your door in person.

The scammer’s pitch is always urgent. They like to use phrases like “donate now,” “lives are at stake,” or “time is running out.” To seem legitimate, fraudsters use names that sound similar to trusted charities, feature stolen logos, and share fabricated stories or photos.

Once they’ve hooked you emotionally, they pressure you into paying them via untraceable payment methods like cash, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. These methods make it nearly impossible to recover your money once it’s gone.

What are the common charity scam types?

Charity scammers use a variety of tactics to steal your money, each tailored to different situations and platforms. Go through the list so you know what to expect and can spot a charity scam before you donate.

Fake charity websites (copycats)

Scammers create websites that look nearly identical to legitimate charities, using similar names, logos, and layouts. They may register domains like "RedCross-Relief.org" instead of the real "RedCross.org" or mimic well-known organizations right down to the design. Once you donate, your money goes straight to the scammer, who may then sell your credit card details on the dark web or use it for credit card fraud. For example, FTC shared data in its Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2025, that a fraudulent account opened in the victim’s name was the top reported type of identity theft, with 553,000 reports.[2]

Crowdfunding scams

Fake GoFundMe pages and Facebook fundraisers are common types of crowdfunding scams. Scammers monitor trending tragedies, then create convincing campaigns that claim to help a sick baby, a family who lost their home, or flooding survivors. They use stolen photos and heartbreaking stories copied from real victims.

Door-to-door scams

Scammers knock on your door saying they’re collecting donations for local charities, fire departments, or children’s causes. They may carry official-looking clipboards or badges, and they always pressure you to donate cash or write a check on the spot. However, they usually don’t provide any receipts or proof of legitimacy. Once you hand over the money, they disappear.

Phone and robocall scams

You receive a call or prerecorded message asking for an urgent donation to a charity. In phone scams, criminals often spoof caller IDs to make it look like the call is coming from a local number or a known organization. They pressure you to donate immediately, sometimes claiming you’ve already pledged support.

Phishing scams

In phishing scams, scammers send emails, text messages, or social media ads that look like they’re from real charities, complete with official logos and urgent language. These messages include links that lead to fake donation pages designed to steal your payment information and personal details. Knowing how to spot a phishing email can help you catch these scams before you click — look for suspicious sender addresses, generic greetings, and pressure to act immediately.

QR code charity scams

Scammers place fake QR codes over real ones on donation boxes, parking meters, or charity flyers. When you scan the code, it directs your payment to the scammer instead of the legitimate charity. These “quishing” scams are increasingly common because QR codes bypass email filters and people trust them without checking where they actually lead.

Government impersonation scams 

In impersonation scams, criminals pose as someone else — typically, someone you would automatically trust. In government impersonation scams, they pretend to be IRS agents offering “tax relief” or claim to be from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) processing aid applications, then ask for your Social Security number (SSN) and bank account details to “verify your identity” or upfront fees. Once they have your SSN and personal information, fraudsters can open new financial accounts in your name without you knowing. 

Holiday scams 

Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Giving Tuesday are the best time for holiday scams because people tend to be the most generous. Scammers create fake charity websites, send donation requests through email and text, and set up phishing pages that look like legitimate holiday giving campaigns.

Disaster and emergency relief scams 

Disaster and emergency relief scams spike immediately after hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, or mass tragedies, when scammers set up fake relief websites, send phishing emails, and create bogus crowdfunding campaigns to intercept donations meant for real victims. They target both donors and survivors — sometimes even filing fake FEMA claims using stolen personal information from those already suffering.

Police, firefighter, and military charity scams 

Police charity scams, veteran charity scams, and military charity scams exploit public respect for those who serve. Scammers call or send texts claiming to raise money for organizations with names like “Veterans Relief Fund,” “Firefighters Support Foundation,” or “Police Officers Defense Alliance” because names like these sound legitimate.

Notable real-world charity scam examples

Charity scams aren’t just small-time cons — some schemes operate for years and steal millions before getting caught. Here are three real-world cases that show the lengths that fraudsters are willing to go to for profit.

Kars-R-Us cancer charity scheme (2017-2022)

Between 2017 and 2022, Kars-R-Us.com and its operators raised more than $45.5 million by soliciting vehicle donations for the United Breast Cancer Foundation. In 2025, the FTC and 19 state agencies shut down the scheme.[2] They promised donors that their cars would help “save lives” by funding free and low-cost breast cancer screenings. In reality, only $126,815 — a mere 0.28% of donations — actually paid for screenings, while $34.9 million went to Kars, its operators, and vendors. More than 84,000 people donated their vehicles believing they were helping cancer patients. Under the settlement, the main operator is permanently banned from fundraising, and the company faces a $3.8 million judgment.

New Heights Community Resource Center meal fraud (2019-2022)

Federal prosecutors charged Connie Bobo, executive director of Missouri nonprofit New Heights Community Resource Center, with defrauding federal child nutrition programs of approximately $10 million.[3] Bobo claimed reimbursement for nearly six million meals meant for low-income children, but investigators found that food purchases could have supplied fewer than half that number. Prosecutors allege she falsified meal counts, fabricated invoices, and obstructed oversight while using the stolen funds to buy luxury real estate, high-end vehicles, and gift $1.4 million to a romantic partner. She now faces charges of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and obstruction.

D.E.L.T.A. Rescue’s missing millions (2022-2025)

CharityWatch uncovered serious financial irregularities at D.E.L.T.A. Rescue, one of the nation’s largest animal sanctuaries, and its related organizations Living Earth Productions and Horse Rescue of America.[3] D.E.L.T.A. Rescue reported granting over $2.5 million to these affiliated groups in 2022 and 2023, but neither recipient reported receiving the funds in their own tax filings. The charity’s overlapping leadership — just three officers or directors controlling all three organizations — raised red flags about self-dealing and misuse of charitable assets. After a $6.7 million wrongful-termination lawsuit judgment and mounting financial pressure, D.E.L.T.A. Rescue filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2025.

How to spot charity scams

Watch for these red flags that can help you tell the difference between a legitimate charity and a scam:

• Pressure to donate immediately. Scammers create urgency with phrases like “donate now or lives will be lost” to stop you from researching the charity.

  
  

• Requests for cash, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Legitimate charities don’t ask for untraceable payment methods.

  
  

• Vague answers about how the charity uses the funds. If they can’t clearly explain what percentage goes to programs versus overhead, it’s a warning sign.

  
  

• No EIN or tax-exempt status. Real charities can provide their Employer Identification Number (EIN) and proof of IRS tax-exempt status.

  
  

• A name that’s too similar to a well-known charity. Scammers use copycat names like “American Red Cross Relief” instead of “American Red Cross” to confuse donors.

  
  

• No verifiable address, phone number, or Form 990. Legitimate nonprofits file annual Form 990s with the IRS, which are publicly available.

  
  

• Thanking you for a donation you don’t remember making. This tactic tricks you into thinking you already pledged support to pressure you into paying.

  
  

• No specific program details. Real charities can tell you exactly what your donation funds — meals served, families housed, or services provided. Vague statements like “helping those in need” are red flags.

  
  

• Refuses to send written information. If they won’t email materials or provide a website address, they’re likely hiding something.

Even if a charity doesn’t display these warning signs, it’s still a good idea to research it before donating your hard-earned money.

How to avoid charity scams

Protecting yourself from charity fraud starts with doing your homework before you give and then taking control of the donation process.

• Verify charities before donating. Look into the organization using charity verification sites and confirm it’s registered as a nonprofit.
• Search the charity’s name for complaints. Before donating, google “[charity name] scam” or “[charity name] complaint” to see if others have reported issues.
• Donate directly on the charity’s official website. Type the URL yourself instead of clicking links in emails, texts, or social media posts to avoid fake donation pages.
• Donate using a credit card. Credit card transactions can be disputed if fraud occurs, which gives you a layer of protection that cash and other methods don’t offer.
• Never give cash, gift cards, crypto, or wire transfers. These payment methods are untraceable and it’s impossible to recover the money once you’ve sent it.
• Keep records and monitor your accounts for unauthorized charges. Save donation receipts and use a financial account monitoring service to catch suspicious activity early.
• Don’t click donation links from emails or texts. Even if the message looks legitimate, go directly to the charity’s official site by typing the URL manually.
• Use scam protection tools. Scam protection services help detect phishing attempts or offer reimbursement and expert support if you fall victim.
• Take your time. Legitimate charities don’t pressure you to donate on the spot. If someone rushes you, walk away.

As with all scams, donation fraud also relies on you rushing and not thinking through. So even if you’re moved by a cause, take your time with the donation process — a real organization will appreciate your help whenever it comes.

If someone you care about loves giving to charity — especially older family members or friends — share these tips with them. When people 70 and older fall victim to fraud, their median loss tends to be far higher than that of younger victims,[4] so if you or someone you know fits that profile, check out our online safety tips for seniors to stay protected.

How to verify a charity before you donate

Charity verification only takes a few minutes but can save you lots of money — and prevent it from getting into the wrong hands.

Use charity verification sites

Sites like Charity Navigator, CharityWatch, BBB Wise Giving Alliance, and GuideStar can help you tell legit organizations from fake ones. They offer information on how charities spend donations, their financial health, and independent evaluations. These platforms rate charities based on transparency, program spending, and accountability. Before donating, also search “[charity name] scam” or “[charity name] complaint” on Google to see if others have reported issues or red flags.

Search the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Database (TEOS)

Go to the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) at IRS.gov/charities and enter either the charity’s name or its Employer Identification Number (EIN). The results will show whether the organization is tax-exempt, eligible to receive tax-deductible donations, and when it was registered. If the charity doesn’t appear or shows “revoked” status, don’t donate.

Check your state’s charity registry 

Visit the National Association of State Charity Officials website and click on your state to find its charity registry. Search for the organization by name to confirm it’s registered and is allowed to solicit donations in your state, then review its annual filings. If the charity isn’t registered or refuses to provide registration information when you ask, that’s a red flag.

Ask the right questions 

Before you donate, ask the organization or its representative the following questions:

• What percentage of my donation goes directly to programs versus administrative costs?
• Can you provide your EIN?
• Will you send a written receipt for tax purposes?
• How exactly will you use my donation?

Legitimate charities answer these questions clearly and immediately. If they dodge, hesitate, or refuse to provide details, walk away.

What to do if you’ve become a victim of charity fraud

If you’ve fallen for a charity scam, act fast to limit the damage and help authorities track down the scammers.

• Contact your bank or credit card company immediately. Dispute the charge and ask if it can be reversed. Credit card companies often offer fraud protection.
• Report to the FTC. File a complaint at ReportFraud.ftc.gov to create an official record and help the FTC track fraud patterns.
• Report to the FBI. Submit a report to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov, especially if you lost a lot to fraudsters.
• Alert your state attorney general. Search “[your state] attorney general consumer complaint” online or visit naag.org/find-my-ag to find your state’s consumer protection office and file a complaint online or by phone.
• Report to the BBB. Use the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) Scam Tracker at bbb.org/scamtracker to warn others and document the scam.
• Notify the real charity. If scammers impersonated a legitimate organization, contact that charity so they can warn their donors.
• Call the National Disaster Fraud Hotline. If the scam involved disaster relief, call 1-866-720-5721 to report it.
• Monitor your accounts for identity theft. Watch for unauthorized charges and unusual activity that could signal your personal information was compromised. Consider using identity theft protection that sends you fraud alerts about suspicious activity in your credit or bank accounts. Most of these services include dark web monitoring — ongoing scans of the dark web for your personal and financial information leaked by scammers. When you get an alert that your data has been found, you can act fast and secure your accounts before criminals drain them.

The faster you report donation fraud, the better your chances of recovering your money and stopping the scammers from targeting others.

References

1 Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2025). Internet Crime Report 2025. https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2025_IC3Report.pdf

2 Federal Trade Commission. (2025, September 25). FTC and 19 States Act to Stop a Deceptive Cancer Charity Fundraising Scheme. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/09/ftc-19-states-act-stop-deceptive-cancer-charity-fundraising-scheme 

3 Charity Watch. (2025, October 23). Charity Scandal of 2025. https://blog.charitywatch.org/charity-scandals-of-2025/ 

4 Federal Trade Commission. (2026, April 2). Consumer Sentinel. Tableau Public.  https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/ConsumerSentinel/Infographic 

5 Barret, William P. (2025, December 12). America’s Top 100 Charities: A Year of Pain After Trump Cuts. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/lists/top-charities/