Fake Charity Scam After a Natural Disaster — How Scammers Exploit Generosity
After a hurricane, earthquake, or wildfire, social media fills with donation requests from charities you have never heard of. Many are fraudulent. Scammers create fake charity websites, GoFundMe pages, and social media accounts within hours of a disaster to steal donations meant for victims.
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How This Scam Works
High Risk — Scammers Exploit Disasters Within Hours
After every major natural disaster, scammers create fake charities to steal donations. Always verify a charity before donating.
Note: This scam typically arrives via social media, GoFundMe, phone calls, or text messages, not email. If you received a suspicious email, forward it to check@scam.support for a free risk assessment. For charity scams, report to the FTC — see all reporting agencies.
After a hurricane, earthquake, wildfire, or other disaster, social media fills with donation requests from organizations you have never heard of. Scammers create fake charity websites, GoFundMe pages, and social media accounts within hours of a disaster. They use real disaster photos and emotional language to pressure you into donating quickly.
According to the FTC, charity scams surge after every major disaster, with scammers setting up operations quickly to capitalize on public generosity. The FTC recommends verifying charities through established tools like Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org), GuideStar (guidestar.org), or the BBB Wise Giving Alliance (give.org) before donating.
Red Flags
- Charity you have never heard of appears immediately after a disaster
- Pressures you to donate immediately — legitimate charities give you time
- Requests donation by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency
- Name sounds similar to a well-known charity but is slightly different
- Cannot provide a tax ID number or registration details
What You Should Do
What To Do
- Verify the charity at charitynavigator.org, guidestar.org, or give.org before donating
- Donate directly through established organizations like the Red Cross
- Never donate by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency
- Be cautious with GoFundMe campaigns — verify the organizer's identity
- Report suspicious charity solicitations to the FTC