SCAM LIBRARY · IMPERSONATION

The disaster-relief impersonation

Scammers impersonate disaster-relief organizations to trick people into sending money or sharing personal details during emergencies.

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

How it works

After a natural disaster or crisis, you receive an urgent call, text, email, or social-media message claiming to be from a well-known relief charity. They pressure you to donate immediately or verify your identity to 'process aid,' creating a sense of urgency by emphasizing the emergency situation.

Red flags

• Urgent pressure to send money right away, especially via gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
• Requests for personal information like your Social Security number, bank details, or passwords
• Spelling errors, awkward language, or generic greetings ('Dear Customer') in official-looking messages
• Links or phone numbers that don't match the real organization's official website or phone directory

What to do

• Hang up or ignore the message, then contact the charity directly using a phone number or website you find yourself (not from the contact that reached you)
• Never give money, personal information, or access to your devices based on unsolicited contact
• Report the suspicious contact to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov