Pretends to be a charity
Fake charity or election donation
Is a request for donations after a disaster or from a candidate a scam?
It can be. Scammers copy real charities and candidates and use odd payment methods. Check the charity yourself and donate on its official site.
Sometimes real, often faked. Do not use their link or number. Look it up yourself.
Also searched as: disaster relief donation, hurricane charity, veterans charity, police charity, fake GoFundMe
Draft: we're still checking this page. The quotes below are word for word from their sources.
What to do
On the phone right now?
- Stop. Hang up or close the message. Don't tap anything.
- Check. Call a number you already have, like the one on your card or bill.
- Talk to someone you trust before you pay anyone.
If anyone is in danger right now, call 911.
If you already paid
- Call the company you paid through right away: your bank, card company, gift card company, or the wire or Zelle service. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment.
- Call the Justice Department's National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern.
- Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If it happened online, report it at IC3.gov too.
General information, not legal or financial advice. If you've lost money, contact your bank and report it.
How it works
1 They reach you by
- Social media
- Text message
- Website
- Phone call
2 They pretend to be
- A charity
- Police or government
- Someone else
3 They ask for
- Money
- Gift cards
- Crypto
- Wire or Zelle
- Personal details
- Tap a link
What it can look like
Example pattern, not a real message
Pretends to be a charity. What gives it away:
- Pay with gift cards
- Pay with crypto
- Send a wire or Zelle
Warning signs
- They tell you to buy gift cards and read them the numbers. No real agency or company asks to be paid that way.
- They want payment in cryptocurrency, or tell you to use a Bitcoin machine. That money is very hard to get back.
- They push you to send a wire transfer or Zelle payment. That money is very hard to get back.
- They contacted you, then ask for your Social Security, Medicare or bank numbers.
- They want you to use their link or their phone number. Look up the real website or number yourself.
- They say you must pay right now or something bad will happen. Real organizations give you time to check.
Why we say this
Scammers Exploit 2026 U.S. Midterm Election to Perpetrate Multiple Fraud Schemes
Scammers use candidates' names and AI-made voices to ask for fake donations and sell merchandise that never arrives. Some send texts or emails saying you are not registered to vote, with a link to a fake site that steals your details.
Scammers promise victims a guaranteed return on campaign contribution dollars by investing in a candidate campaign pool that supposedly pays out after the candidate wins.
4 more quotes from this source
Victims receive a text message or email stating they are not registered to vote in their state and are encouraged to click a link that takes the victim to a fraudulent state voter registration page.
Be cautious with unsolicited calls, texts, emails, or surveys. Do not provide PII to persons you do not know or click unknown links.
Campaign donations are not an investment and will not increase in value nor be returned.
Check your voter registration at [www.vote.gov](https://www.vote.gov/).
When donating, support those in need, not a scammer
After hurricanes, floods and earthquakes, scammers set up fake charities or pretend to be well-known ones. Any money you give goes to the scammer, not to people who need help. The FTC explains how to check a charity and which payment methods are red flags.
To take advantage of your generosity, scammers might create fake charities that seem official.
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They also might impersonate well-known charity organizations, hoping that the familiar name will draw your donation.
If you get a request to donate to a cause on social media, research that, too. Don’t assume it’s legitimate because a friend posted it.
See if it’s an established organization, not one that showed up overnight without a real way to help those in need.
If someone asks you to donate by text, check the charity’s website first. Confirm you have the right number.
Legitimate charities will accept donations in many different ways.
And if you spot a charity imposter, tell the FTC at [ReportFraud.ftc.gov](https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/).
Atlanta police warn residents about donation scams ahead of holiday season
Atlanta police warn that people asking for donations at intersections may try to get your unlocked phone to take digital payments. Handing over the phone can expose banking and payment apps, so police advise giving cash or donating directly to groups you already trust.
ATLANTA — As the holiday season approaches, Atlanta police are warning residents to be cautious when donating money, particularly when someone asks to use their phone to accept a digital payment.
4 more quotes from this source
“With a giving mindset, you may be tempted to give donations to individuals at intersections asking for money. Do not give up your phone,” Martin said.
Police say allowing someone else to handle an unlocked phone could expose sensitive financial information, including access to banking accounts and payment apps.
“When your phone is unlocked in someone else’s hands, you may notice they may have access to your banking information, such as your Cashapp, your Venmo, and Zelle,” Martin said.
Instead, police recommend donating cash when possible or contributing directly to established organizations that residents know and trust.