A Free Public Service

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California.

March 9, 2022

UKRAINE SCAMS

Courtesy Scambusters—ftc.gov

Experience from past conflicts tells us Ukraine scammers are waiting to snare us, and they won’t necessarily come from Eastern Europe.

When scammers spot a crisis in the world, they are there to take advantage. It’s true millions of generous people want to support the Ukrainian people. If you’re one of them, use extreme caution!

You don’t have to give immediately. Do research first to make sure your donation will go where you want it to go. Your generosity can make a difference any time you give — especially if you take a few minutes to make sure your donation goes where you mean it to. Learn more at ftc.gov/charity.

Phony Charity organizations

Check out the organization. Search online for the name of the group, plus words like “review,” “scam,” or “complaint.” See if others have had good or bad experiences with the charity. And see what charity watchdog groups say about that organization.

How will your money be spent?

Ask, for example, how much of your donation will go to the program you want to help? If someone calls to ask you to donate, they should be able to answer those critical questions.

Ask who’s requesting you to donate.  Don’t assume a request to donate is legitimate because a friend posted it on social media. Your friend might not personally know the charity or how it spends money.

If you’re donating through social media, be sure which organization your donation will go to. Check whether there are fees, and how quickly your money gets to the beneficiary. And if you can’t get answers quickly, consider donating in other ways.

Scammers Target Americans

The conflict in Ukraine may seem a long way from your doorstep but you can be sure, in at least one way, your security is likely to be threatened: by scammers!

Here are schemes that will likely target Americans in the coming weeks — even if there are serious moves toward peace in Ukraine.

Distressed Friends or Relatives

This long-established scam is perfectly tailored toward the situation in Ukraine right now.

Victims receive a message by phone, text or email, seemingly from someone they know, who will say they’re trapped in the war zone and urgently need money to escape.

They will ask for the money to be sent by one of the wiring services because that’s  how you might send cash in such a dire situation.

Usually, the crooks will phone, using a vague introduction like “It’s me” in hopes the victim will guess the name of someone they know. Then they’ll spin a story about being on a business trip or vacation in Ukraine when they got trapped.

If this happens to you, always ask the name of the caller rather than giving them clues and then check on the real location of that person via friends or relatives.

If you can’t confirm their whereabouts, it’s almost certainly a scam. If you wire money it will be lost.

War Victim Charities

Scammers set up fake websites claiming to be involved in helping Ukrainian victims of the battles. This is exactly what happened during the conflict in Syria.

Social media sites like Facebook are their favorite hunting grounds.

Often, scam charities use realistic sounding names and feature dramatic photos from war zones. They may want you to wire cash or use cybercurrency to donate, both of which are untraceable after the money is sent.

Or they may ask you to pay by credit card and then use your card details for identity theft, which they’ll either sell or max out.

The best way to avoid Ukraine charity scams is to contribute only to established, reputable charities like the Red Cross. Even then, you need to be sure you’re dealing with the genuine organization by searching online for their website and starting from there.

Watch out too for street and shopping mall collectors with donation buckets or boxes. Unless you know the collector personally, It’s next to impossible to know if they’re genuine.  

Depending on the direction this conflict takes, Ukrainian versions of other well-known scams will likely emerge in the coming weeks. The best policy is that when you see or hear the word “Ukraine,” beware and think carefully before acting.

Learn more at ftc.gov/charity.