Fake Charity Scams in Denmark
Fraudulent charity appeals targeting Danish donors with fake MobilePay or card donation pages that divert DKK from legitimate causes.
Part of: Fake Charity Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Denmark has a well-developed culture of charitable giving, which fraudsters exploit with fake crisis appeals and impersonated charity brands. Victims donate DKK via MobilePay or card to pages that mimic Danish Røde Kors, Red Barnet, or invented organisations with convincing .dk domains.
Insamlingsnævnet (Danish Fundraising Council) certifies legitimate Danish fundraising organisations and can be used to verify charity authenticity. Donation fraud in Denmark spikes sharply after major international humanitarian crises.
How this scam works on Denmark
A Facebook or Instagram post shares an emotional appeal for a current crisis, linking to a MobilePay or payment page that closely resembles a real Danish charity's design. The MobilePay number is personal, not a verified organisation account.
Other operations register convincing .dk charity domains with professional Danish-language content and solicit recurring MobilePay donations. No Danish CVR number is verifiable.
Some scammers directly impersonate Røde Kors Danmark or Red Barnet using near-identical domains.
Common red flags
- Charity not found in Insamlingsnævnet's register
- MobilePay donation number is a personal mobile, not a verified organisation number
- High-pressure appeal immediately following a major crisis
- Donation page URL does not exactly match the charity's official domain
- No CVR number visible or verifiable at cvr.dk
- Appeal arrives via unsolicited SMS or email
How to protect yourself
- Verify Danish charities via Insamlingsnævnet before donating
- Donate by typing the official charity URL directly — never via social-media links
- Verify the MobilePay donation number on the charity's official website
- Look for charities with the Insamlingsnævnet seal
- Report suspicious appeals to Politi at politi.dk and Forbrugerrådet Tænk
How to report it
- Report fake charity appeals to Insamlingsnævnet
- Report to Politi at politi.dk
- Seek guidance from Forbrugerrådet Tænk at taenk.dk
Frequently asked questions
I already donated to a fake charity via MobilePay in Denmark — can I get the money back?
MobilePay transfers to individuals are hard to reverse once sent, so contact MobilePay support and your bank promptly to ask about a possible recall. Also file a report at politi.dk, since documentation may help if the receiving account is later frozen.
How can I tell a real Røde Kors appeal from an impersonator?
Type the official redkors.dk address directly rather than clicking any shared link, and check that the MobilePay number matches the one listed on their own site. Genuine appeals also appear on the charity's verified social accounts, not just a single shared post.
Are crowdfunding pages for crisis appeals in Denmark ever legitimate?
Yes, but verify the organiser's identity and check whether the platform holds funds until a goal or verification step is met. Be extra cautious of pages created within hours of a news event, since fraudsters often move faster than genuine local response efforts.
How do I verify a Danish charity is legitimate?
Check Insamlingsnævnet's register and verify the CVR number at cvr.dk. Legitimate Danish fundraising organisations have both a CVR registration and Insamlingsnævnet certification.