Charity & Disaster Scams
After a hurricane, flood, fire or tragedy, people want to help, and scammers know it. Fake charities, copycat names and phony crowdfunding pages take money meant for victims. Disaster victims also get targeted by fake contractors and fake officials. A few simple checks protect your money and make sure your help reaches the people who need it.
- Everyone
- Families
- Disaster Survivors
Common charity scams
- Fake charities that look real, with an emotional story, a professional website and a name that sounds like a well-known group. They may appear within hours of a disaster.
- Copycat names that differ by one word or letter from a real charity.
- High-pressure calls, texts and emails that demand an immediate donation, or say a “matching gift” will expire.
- Social media posts and crowdfunding pages with made-up victims and stolen photos.
- Impersonating real organizations, including fake emails with real logos, or a caller who claims to be from a police, firefighters’ or veterans’ group.
- Charity “middlemen” who keep most of what they collect.
Warning signs
- You are pressured to give right now, or you’re told you can’t take time to check.
- They ask for payment by gift cards, wire transfer, cryptocurrency or a payment app. Real charities don’t demand these. See Payment App Scams and Crypto & Investment Scams.
- They won’t say exactly how your donation will be used, or give vague answers.
- They thank you for a pledge you never made.
- The name is nearly identical to a famous charity but not quite.
- You get an unsolicited message with a link. See Text Message Scams and Phishing Emails.
- They promise that your donation is tax-deductible, but the group has no tax-exempt status.
How to check a charity before you give
- Search the exact name plus words like “scam” or “reviews.”
- Look it up on independent charity watchdogs, such as Charity Navigator, CharityWatch or the BBB Wise Giving Alliance (Give.org), which report on how charities spend money.
- Check tax-exempt status with the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Note that some legitimate groups, such as churches, aren’t listed.
- Check your state charity regulator. Many states require charities to register, and state attorneys general or secretaries of state list them.
- Go to the charity’s own website by typing the address yourself, not by clicking a link in a message.
- Ask questions: how much of my gift goes to the program, and how will it be used? A real charity will answer.
Giving safely
- Pay by credit card or a check made out to the charity’s full name, not to a person. Credit cards give you dispute rights.
- Take your time. A good charity will still be there tomorrow.
- Don’t give your Social Security number, bank account number or passwords to a charity caller.
- Keep records of donations for taxes and review your statements for unexpected charges. Be careful of recurring donations you didn’t intend.
- For crowdfunding, give to people you know, or check that the campaign is verified and the organizer can be identified. Fundraising sites vary in how they check campaigns.
- If you want to help after a disaster, consider established groups with disaster-response experience, and choose cash donations over collecting goods, since groups can buy what is needed locally.
Scams that target disaster survivors
- Fake contractors go door to door after storms offering quick roof repairs, tree removal or cleanup, demanding payment up front, then disappearing or doing poor work. See Hiring Contractors and Disaster Cleanup.
- Fake officials claiming to be from FEMA, the government or an insurance company, asking for money or personal details. FEMA doesn’t charge fees for help, and inspectors never ask for money. Official workers carry photo ID, and you can call to verify.
- Phony aid applications that ask for your Social Security number and bank details. Apply only through official sites and phone numbers.
- Fake rental or relief listings and price gouging on supplies. See Marketplace Scams.
- Identity theft using your disaster-related paperwork. See Identity Theft.
Never pay a contractor in full up front, get written estimates and contracts, check licenses and references, and don’t sign over insurance payments. See Elder Fraud for protecting older relatives.
If you think you were scammed
- Contact your bank or card company right away to stop or dispute the payment.
- If you shared account information, change passwords and watch your accounts. See What to Do if Your Account Is Hacked.
- Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and to your state attorney general.
- For disaster-related fraud, report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or disaster@leo.gov.
- See Reporting Cybercrime.
Before you donate
- I checked the charity on an independent watchdog and the IRS tax-exempt search
- I typed the website address myself instead of clicking a message link
- I’m paying by credit card or check, not gift cards, wire or crypto
- I wasn’t pressured, and I got clear answers about how my gift is used
- After a disaster, I verified any contractor or official before paying or sharing information
Standards & references
Last updated: