Medicine for Masha — and Other Tales from the Fake Fund

Fake charitable organizations are created to illegally enrich themselves under the guise of collecting donations. They may mimic well-known funds by creating websites with similar names and logos or act on behalf of non-existent organizations.

Main signs of fraud:

1. Lack of transparent reporting on the use of funds.
2. Use of emotional pressure on donors.
3. False contact information or its complete absence.
4. Requirement to transfer money to personal accounts of individuals.
5. Photos and stories copied from open sources.

Fraudsters often use photos of real people but change their names and circumstances. They may also hide behind the names of well-known funds, changing only small details that are hard to notice at first glance. To attract more funds, the perpetrators spread fake news and articles, create groups on social media, and actively promote false information.

Donation Scams: Popular Schemes of Deception

There are several common methods of donation fraud:

1. Fake collections on social media – perpetrators create emotional posts about helping sick children or disaster victims, attach fake medical documents, and ask to transfer money to individuals' cards.
2. Fake charity websites – copies of real funds where the money is redirected to fraudsters.
3. Street collections – pseudo-volunteers with fake documents ask for donations in crowded places.
4. Phone scams – calls from supposed fund representatives asking to help with urgent cases.
5. Fake charity auctions – scammers create fictitious auctions, promising that the proceeds will go to charity, but in the end, they just take everything for themselves.
6. False crowdfunding campaigns – announcements on fundraising platforms that imitate real ones, but the money goes not to help but into the pockets of fraudsters.
7. Scam mailings – perpetrators send emails requesting funds for supposed charitable needs, disguising themselves as well-known funds.
8. Fake SMS collections – users receive messages urging them to help, but the money goes to scammers' accounts.

How to Check a Charitable Fund Before Donating

To avoid falling victim to fraudsters, you should verify the information before transferring funds. Key steps:

1. Find the official data of the fund in the registry of charitable organizations.
2. Check the website: legitimate funds should have activity reports, statutory documents, contacts, and details.
3. Look for reviews on independent resources.
4. Check the recipient's account number: official funds use corporate details, not personal cards.
5. Call the organization and clarify the details of the collection.
6. Study the reports on the work done – serious organizations publish detailed information about each project and the use of funds.
7. Check if the fund has licenses and registration documents.
8. Be cautious of letters and messages that insistently demand transferring money.
9. Request detailed information from the organization about where exactly the collected funds are going.
10. Analyze the websites of verified charitable organizations to understand what transparent activity looks like.

Fraud on Charity Sites: How Not to Fall Into a Trap 

Fake charitable platforms often attract donors with attractive designs and heart-wrenching stories. To avoid deception, you need to:

• check the domain of the site – scammers may use addresses similar to those of well-known funds.
• study the details for the transfer – they must match the official ones.
• analyze the texts of the collections – if there are spelling errors or vague wording, this is a reason to be wary.
• not click on suspicious links, especially those received in private messages.
• check who is the organizer of the collection – if there is no information about a specific person or legal entity, this is a red flag.
• keep track of updates on the site – reliable funds regularly publish reports on collected and spent funds.
• check if there are mentions of this resource online, study ratings and reviews.
• look for information about the fund's projects on third-party platforms to ensure its reality.
• never send money to suspicious accounts, especially if the collection is accompanied by urgent and emotional appeals.

Conclusion 

Fraud in charity exploits people's trust and manipulates their emotions. Verifying information, vigilance, and awareness help avoid falling into financial traps set by fraudsters. It is important to remember that genuine charitable organizations are always ready to provide detailed information about their activities and reports confirming the transparency of their work. If you have doubts, it is better to refrain from transferring funds and find a verified fund that genuinely engages in charity.