SCAM LIBRARY · MONEY & PAYMENT

The fake charity appeal

A fake charity appeal pressures you to donate quickly by claiming an urgent cause, but the money goes to scammers instead of helping people in need.

Documented by the FTC & FBI IC3 · reviewed 2026-07-06

How it works

You receive an unsolicited phone call, email, text, or mailed letter asking for an immediate donation to help disaster victims, sick children, or animals—often using emotional language and emphasizing time sensitivity. The caller or message creates urgency by suggesting that your donation is needed right now, and may claim to represent a well-known charitable organization or use a name that sounds similar to a legitimate one.

Red flags

• They push you to donate immediately without giving you time to research or think it over.
• They refuse to provide verifiable contact information, a mailing address, or a way to confirm their legitimacy.
• They pressure you to pay by wire transfer, gift card, cash, or cryptocurrency—methods that cannot be reversed.
• The charity name is slightly different from a real organization, or they're vague about exactly where your money goes.

What to do

• Hang up or ignore the unsolicited contact, then independently call the charity's official number (look it up yourself online or in a phone book) to verify the appeal is real.
• Legitimate charities are happy to answer questions and provide proof of their work; never let time pressure force you into donating.
• Report the fake charity appeal to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.