A Free Public Service

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

March 28, 2022

UKRAINE CHARITY FRAUD

Courtesy ftc.gov–AARP

A Free Public Service

March 28, 2022

Scammers take advantage of others’ misfortunes. When scammers spot a crisis like that in Ukraine they will take advantage to ply their hateful trade.

Many generous people want to support the Ukrainian people. If you’re one of them, use extreme caution!

You may feel pressured by e-mail, text, social media or even in person to act immediately. That is a Red Flag!

Do Research

 Do research first to make sure your donation will go where you want it to go. Research resources include www.give.org; www.charitywatch.org; www.charitynavigator.org; www,ft.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.

How will your money be spent?

If someone calls asking you to donate, ask how much of your donation will go to the program or person you want to help. If they can’t provide that information any donation you make would be at risk.

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.

You may be pressured to act quickly, and pay through a payment app, by text, purchasing gift cards and sharing numbers off the backs. That is a Red Flag.

Distressed Friends or Relatives

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

The crooks may call 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 were trapped. They will ask for the money to be sent by one of the wiring services.

If this happens to you, always ask the name of the caller rather than giving them information. 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.

Scammers set up fake websites claiming to be involved in helping Ukrainian victims of the battles.

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—and lost.

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

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 is next to impossible to know if they’re genuine. 

Other versions of Ukraine scams will likely emerge in the coming weeks. The best policy is that when you see or hear the name “Ukraine,” beware and think carefully before donating.

Learn more at ftc.gov/charity.

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