SCAM LIBRARY · MONEY & PAYMENT
The fake charity appeal
Scammers pose as charitable organizations to collect donations that go into their own pockets instead of helping people in need.
Documented by the FTC & FBI IC3 · reviewed 2026-07-11T18:14:57.874Z
How it works
You receive an urgent appeal—by phone, email, text, or mail—asking for a donation to help victims of a disaster, sick children, or another sympathetic cause. The caller or message creates emotional pressure by emphasizing how badly help is needed right now, and may offer to send someone to pick up a check or ask you to wire money immediately.
What it can look like
You get a phone call from someone claiming to represent a well-known charity. They say a recent disaster has left families without homes and donations are desperately needed today. They ask for your credit card number or offer to pick up a check from your house within the hour.
How it unfolds
Scams like this follow a pattern. Knowing the arc helps you notice where you are — and step away before the ask.
Red flags
- Pressure to donate immediately or 'while supplies last'—legitimate charities don't rush you
- Requests for cash, gift cards, wire transfers, or payment apps instead of standard donation methods
- A caller offering to pick up a check at your home (legitimate charities rarely do this)
- Vague descriptions of how your money will be used, or evasive answers to your questions
- The charity's name sounds similar to a real, well-known organization but is slightly different
What to do
- Hang up and independently verify the charity by searching its official website or calling the main phone number listed there—never use a number from the caller's message
- Donate only through the official charity's secure website or by mailing a check to their real address; avoid giving payment information over the phone to unsolicited callers
- Report the suspicious appeal to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov
If it already happened
Acting quickly can limit the damage. You are not alone, and it is not your fault.
- Stop all contact immediately. Do not answer further calls, emails, or messages from this person or number. Block the contact if possible.
- Contact your bank or payment service right away—tell them you may have been scammed. If you sent money via wire, gift card, or cryptocurrency, ask if the transaction can be stopped or reversed, and follow their instructions carefully.
- If you shared personal information (name, address, phone, Social Security number), place a fraud alert with the three major credit bureaus and monitor your credit reports for suspicious activity.
- Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Provide as much detail as you remember: how you were contacted, what was said, any names or numbers used, and the type of payment you sent.
Sources
Guidance on this page draws on public, authoritative consumer-protection resources (verified live 2026-07-10). Documented by the FTC & FBI IC3 · reviewed 2026-07-11T18:14:57.874Z.
