Alert : Fake online fundraising scams – fictitious collections exploit tragedies and current events

Fake fundraisers use emotional stories, recent disasters or supposed medical emergencies to obtain donations.

Stay vigilant: a few checks can often help distinguish a legitimate collection from an attempt to divert funds.

Fake online fundraising scam

This fraud consists of creating a money collection based on an invented, diverted or falsely identified story. The sums paid are then collected by the scammer instead of being passed on to the people or organisations announced.

The method used

Fraudsters publish particularly emotional stories about a serious illness, an accident, a fire, a natural disaster or a humanitarian crisis. They may use stolen photographs, impersonate a real victim or produce artificial testimonials to make their story credible.

The fundraiser is then spread quickly by SMS, email or social media in order to trigger an immediate reaction and limit checks.

Warning signs: identity difficult to verify, highly emotional story without precise details, photographs from other sources, lack of supporting evidence, collection appearing immediately after a heavily publicised event, strong pressure to act, link received in an unsolicited message or massively posted on social media.

A few tips:

• 🔎 Search for the organiser’s name and check their real link with the beneficiary.
• 🪪 Check the identity of the creator of the collection as well as the information provided by the platform.
• 📄 Ask for precise supporting evidence when the situation remains vague or unverifiable.
• 🖼️ Carry out a reverse image search to detect possible impersonation.
• 🏛️ For disasters or humanitarian crises, prioritise official organisations, recognised charities and the websites of the authorities concerned.
• 🔗 Do not send money from a link received by SMS or email without first checking its address.
• 💳 Use a payment method that offers traceability and avoid direct bank transfers to a personal account.
• ⏳ Take the time to check the fundraiser, even when the situation is presented as urgent.

Conclusion

An emotional or widely shared fundraiser is not necessarily authentic. Before contributing, check the organiser’s identity, the origin of the images, the available supporting evidence and the checks carried out by the platform.

If in doubt, report the collection to the platform concerned as well as to the competent official service, such as Report Fraud (UK) or ReportFraud.gov (US). Our anti-fraud reporting assistant can also help you identify the appropriate steps. Inform those around you to prevent other people from sending money.

You can also consult the following resources:

👉 Check the risk level of a suspicious link
👉 The essential reflexes to avoid online scams
👉 Useful steps after becoming a victim of fraud

Written by : René Ronse
Sources & Methodology : This alert is based on regular monitoring of national reporting platforms, feedback from victims, statements issued by the relevant authorities and other information available at the time of writing or the latest update. Its purpose is to identify the method used, the warning signs and the appropriate steps to take when faced with this type of fraud.
About the author : René Ronse, manager of ArnaqueOuFiable.com. Expert in consumer cybersecurity, specialist in detecting online fraud, product transparency, and digital compliance. He has over 20 years of experience analyzing hidden subscription mechanisms, unreadable terms and conditions, aggressive sales tactics, and deceptive commercial practices on the web.
Last updated : 7 August 2026.
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