Spotting Charity Scams
After a Natural Disaster
When a natural disaster hits, most people have it in their heart that they want to help. Donations go out in the thousands as volunteers step in, and communities come together as a team. Unfortunately, scammers move in too, to steal their share of the cash.
After major disasters, charity scams rise fast, and criminals know people feel urgency, fear, and compassion for those in need. We hear about this on what seems like a daily basis, as they use those emotions to steal money meant for real victims.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, disaster-related scams increase within days of major events—and millions of dollars are lost each year to scammers.
Their goal is simple:
| Take your money and make you feel good about helping others in need before you have time to think. |
The Emotional Trap
After a disaster, people act from the heart and want to be helpful.
You may see:
| A family on the news who lost everything. A viral post asking for help. A video of someone crying and asking for donations. |
Scammers copy these situations to get you to open your emotions, and modify them to create fake stories that feel real. They use strong images and urgent messages to push you to act fast. If it makes you feel rushed or emotional, slow down and take a breath. That’s your first warning sign.
Common Charity Scams to Watch For
Fake Charities
Scammers create names that sound real, like “Disaster Relief Fund” or “Emergency Flood Support.” To check for legit and legal charities, research them on "Charity Navigator".
They may:
| Call or text you. Send emails. Post on social media. |
To stay safe:
| Look up the charity before donating. Avoid vague or unclear missions. Never send money through gift cards, wire transfers, or crypto. Crowdfunding Scams. |
Platforms like GoFundMe can help real people, unfortunately, scammers use them too.
Watch for:
| Stolen photos. Copied stories. Fake accounts. AI created images. |
To stay safe:
| Donate to people you know or verified campaigns. Check if the story appears in multiple places. Contact the organizer if possible. FEMA Impersonation Scams. |
Scammers pretend to be from Federal Emergency Management Agency.
They may:
| Offer faster aid. Ask for fees. Request personal information. |
Know this:
| FEMA does not charge money to apply for help. Real agents can be verified. |
If someone asks for payment, it’s a scam.
Payment App Scams
Scammers often ask for “quick help” using apps like Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle.
These payments are:
| Fast. Hard to trace. Almost impossible to recover. |
To stay safe:
| Only send money to people you know. Avoid random requests on social media. Verify before sending anything. |
Simple Rules for Giving Safely
Think like a detective and check before you trust or make any donations.
Do Your Homework
| Search the charity, as real groups are clear about where money goes. |
Use Trusted Sources
| Donate through official websites, not links in random posts. |
Watch for Pressure
| Real charities don’t rush or guilt you. |
Check the Website
| Look for misspellings or strange web addresses. |
What a Detective Would Tell You
| Scammers move fast after disasters. They copy real stories and images. They rely on emotion, not facts. Once money is sent, it’s usually gone. |
If it feels urgent, stop and check.
What To Do If You Spot a Scam
Take action right away:
| Report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Report disaster fraud to the National Center for Disaster Fraud. Report online scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. Report fake fundraisers to the platform. Search the Charity Navigator Platform for Legit Charities. |
Also, warn others, as sharing information helps stop scams from spreading.
Final Truth
Scammers follow disasters, and it happens every time all over the world.
The pattern is simple:
|
1) Urgent story. 2) Emotional pull. 3) Fast payment request. |
You can still help people in need, however you must be smart about it, and just do it the right way. So you need to - Pause - Check/Investigate - Then give. That’s how you protect your money -and make sure it goes where it should.