$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
disaster relief charity scam
Scammers exploit natural disasters and emergencies by setting up fake charities or impersonating real ones to collect donations that never reach victims.
“charity scam”
↑ 142%Key indicators
Usually targetsDonors
Often hitsNonprofit and charity workers
Common regionGlobal
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers create fake charities or clone real charity websites within hours of a major disaster
2
They solicit donations through social media, email blasts, and crowdfunding platforms using emotional imagery
3
Donations are pocketed by the scammers and no aid is provided to disaster victims
What to do first
Donate only through established charities verified on Charity Navigator, GuideStar, or your local government's charity registry
Related terms
fake disaster fundemergency relief fraudnatural disaster donation scamCharity scamsSocial mediaSurgingDonorsDisaster-affected communitiesSocial media usersNonprofit and charity workersGlobalfake disaster fundemergency relief fraud
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Michael, 35, a donors, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate charity scams situation while using Social media. Scammers create fake charities or clone real charity websites within hours of a major disaster
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They solicit donations through social media, email blasts, and crowdfunding platforms using emotional imagery
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Donations are pocketed by the scammers and no aid is provided to disaster victims
The outcome
Michael realized something was wrong when charity was created immediately after a disaster and has no prior history or track record. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Donate only through established charities verified on Charity Navigator, GuideStar, or your local government's charity registry Michael's experience shows why charity was created immediately after a disaster and has no prior history or track record and donation is requested via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency rather than standard payment methods are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Charity was created immediately after a disaster and has no prior history or track record
- Donation is requested via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency rather than standard payment methods
- Organization cannot be found on charity verification sites like Charity Navigator or GuideStar
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Donate only through established charities verified on Charity Navigator, GuideStar, or your local government's charity registry
- ✓Be cautious of emotional social media appeals and verify the organization independently before donating
- ✓Report suspicious charities to the FTC and your state attorney general's office
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The FTC warns that charity scams surge after every major disaster, with scammers often impersonating the Red Cross and similar well-known organizations
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Donate only through established charities verified on Charity Navigator, GuideStar, or your local government's charity registry
- ✓Be cautious of emotional social media appeals and verify the organization independently before donating
- ✓Report suspicious charities to the FTC and your state attorney general's office
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The FTC warns that charity scams surge after every major disaster, with scammers often impersonating the Red Cross and similar well-known organizations
FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. Global has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
Report cross-border scams
econsumer.gov (ICPEN)
International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network portal for reporting cross-border online scams. Reports are shared with consumer protection agencies in 40+ countries.
Interpol financial crime guidance
Interpol
International policing guidance on online financial fraud, romance scams, and investment fraud operating across borders.
Report phishing emails
Anti-Phishing Working Group
Global industry coalition for reporting phishing emails and URLs. Forward phishing to [email protected].
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Donors, Disaster-affected communities, Social media users
Geographic concentration
Global
Primary channel
Social media — Charity scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Donors are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The FTC warns that charity scams surge after every major disaster, with scammers often impersonating the Red Cross and similar well-known organizations
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about disaster relief charity scam
How does the disaster relief charity scam work?+
Scammers create fake charities or clone real charity websites within hours of a major disaster They solicit donations through social media, email blasts, and crowdfunding platforms using emotional imagery Donations are pocketed by the scammers and no aid is provided to disaster victims
What are the warning signs of disaster relief charity scam?+
Charity was created immediately after a disaster and has no prior history or track record Donation is requested via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency rather than standard payment methods Organization cannot be found on charity verification sites like Charity Navigator or GuideStar
What should I do if I encounter disaster relief charity scam?+
Donate only through established charities verified on Charity Navigator, GuideStar, or your local government's charity registry Be cautious of emotional social media appeals and verify the organization independently before donating Report suspicious charities to the FTC and your state attorney general's office
Who is most at risk for disaster relief charity scam?+
This scam primarily targets Donors, Disaster-affected communities, Social media users. It is most commonly reported in Global and typically appears on Social media.
Is disaster relief charity scam getting worse?+
disaster relief charity scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, UK, AU, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
Recent reports
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.