Disaster Relief Scams via Wire Transfer
Fraudulent relief organisations collect international wire transfers from donors shortly after disasters, routing funds to criminal accounts while providing no aid to victims.
Part of: Disaster Relief Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Wire transfer disaster relief scams typically target institutional or corporate donors who are capable of making larger contributions and for whom a wire transfer is a natural payment method. Fraudsters create convincing charity entities — sometimes registered in low-scrutiny jurisdictions — and solicit transfers that appear entirely legitimate on their face.
Because wire transfers can be directed to overseas accounts immediately, and because disaster timelines create urgency that discourages due diligence, fraudulent relief organisations can collect substantial sums before being identified.
How this scam works on wire transfer
A newly registered charitable entity reaches out to companies or foundations shortly after a major disaster, soliciting corporate contributions by wire. Supporting materials include a professional website, bank account details, and tax exemption documentation that may be forged or legitimate in a low-scrutiny jurisdiction.
Some operations impersonate the local subsidiary of a well-known international relief brand, using a similar name and wire account details that differ slightly from the genuine organisation's banking information.
In some cases, existing relief organisations are compromised — their vendor or donor communication channels are hijacked, and fraudulent wire instructions replace the genuine account details in outgoing correspondence.
Common red flags
- Wire account details arrived by email rather than being pre-verified through the organisation's published banking information
- Organisation was recently registered or incorporated in a jurisdiction unrelated to the disaster
- Tax exemption documentation is from an unfamiliar jurisdiction
- Solicitation contact initiated by the charity rather than the donor
- Changes to wire account details arrived by email asking you to update your records
- Organisation name is similar to a well-known relief brand but registered separately
How to protect yourself
- Verify wire account details by calling the charity through their published number before transferring
- Be especially sceptical of any late-stage changes to wire instructions received by email
- For corporate giving, use a due diligence process that includes verifying registration in the disaster country
- Route large charitable transfers through established, independently audited organisations
- Instruct finance teams to verify changed banking details by phone before updating records
- Document the due diligence process for each wire transfer as a safeguard
How to report it
- Report fraudulent relief organisations to your national charity regulator and financial authority
- Alert your bank immediately if a wire was sent — request a recall to the receiving bank
- File a cybercrime report with your national authority including all correspondence and wire details
Frequently asked questions
How common is bank account detail substitution in charity wire fraud?
Business email compromise (BEC) attacks that substitute bank account details are a well-documented fraud category. Charities and their donors are specifically targeted because wire transfers are common, amounts are large, and the emotional context of disaster giving can override normal verification steps.