Fake Charity Scams on X (Twitter)
Fraudulent charity accounts post urgent donation appeals on X, exploiting trending news and hashtags to divert donations from genuine causes.
Part of: Fake Charity Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
X's real-time trending system makes it an effective platform for charity scams. When a crisis or disaster begins trending, fake charity accounts post within minutes, inserting themselves into the conversation with donation links. Users searching the hashtag encounter both genuine and fraudulent appeals, and it can be very difficult to distinguish them in the heat of the moment.
Fraudulent accounts sometimes reply directly to posts from journalists or public figures covering a crisis, appearing to be legitimate relief organisations when they are in fact collecting funds for personal gain.
How this scam works on X (Twitter)
A fake charity account with a plausible name, a professional-looking header, and fabricated follower counts posts an urgent appeal linked to a trending event. The donation link goes to a payment page or cryptocurrency address with no connection to any registered charity. Some operations use images and stories lifted from legitimate charity communications to appear genuine.
Others hijack the momentum of genuine campaigns by using almost identical names or hashtags, diverting some of the real campaign's potential donors.
Common red flags
- Charity account created very recently, just before or after the crisis it is soliciting for
- No verifiable charity registration number in the bio or linked website
- Donation link requests cryptocurrency or bank transfer rather than established charity payment methods
- Account posts exclusively around high-profile news events
- Bio or account name closely mimics a well-known charity but is not identical
How to protect yourself
- Verify the charity on your national charity regulator's public register before donating
- Navigate to the charity's official website directly rather than through a social-media link
- Donate through established giving platforms that screen charities
- Take a moment before donating even in urgent situations — verified charities can receive donations days after an event
How to report it
- Report the account to X as impersonation or charity fraud
- Report to your national charity regulator
- Alert the genuine charity being impersonated so they can issue a public warning
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a charity I found through a tweet?
Look up the organisation's exact registered name on your national charity regulator's public database. Then navigate to their official website independently (not through the tweet's link) to donate. Cross-referencing with well-known giving platforms is also helpful.