Fake Charity Scams via M-Pesa
How fraudulent fundraising campaigns in East Africa exploit M-Pesa to collect donations for fabricated disaster-relief and community causes.
Part of: Fake Charity Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Charitable giving through M-Pesa is common and culturally normalised in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, where mobile money is used for church tithes, community harambee contributions, and disaster-relief campaigns. Fraudsters create WhatsApp and Facebook campaigns that mimic genuine grassroots fundraising, directing contributions to personal M-Pesa numbers that have no connection to any registered charity.
Because the amounts requested are often small and the cause is emotionally resonant, victims rarely investigate before transferring. The aggregated losses across many donors can be significant.
How this scam works on M-Pesa
A WhatsApp message or Facebook post circulates with compelling photographs of sick children, flood victims, or a burned homestead, alongside a personal M-Pesa number to donate to. The campaign may include a fabricated organisation name and a progress tracker showing a target amount and current total. Some campaigns impersonate real registered charities with nearly identical names.
After a natural disaster or viral news event, fraudulent campaigns appear within hours, drawing donations before the legitimate organisations have established a clear digital presence. The M-Pesa number collects donations until the campaign loses momentum, then moves to a new campaign under a different number.
Common red flags
- Donation requested to a personal M-Pesa number rather than a registered charity paybill or bank account
- Campaign uses names or imagery closely resembling well-known charitable organisations
- Campaign account was created recently with no organisational history
- Photos on reverse image search appear on different campaigns or are from unrelated events
- No charity registration number or verification pathway provided
- Urgency messaging tied to an imminent deadline or rapidly deteriorating situation
How to protect yourself
- Donate only to charities with verifiable NGO Coordination Board registration in Kenya or equivalent in your country
- Use a registered charity's official PayBill number, not a personal M-Pesa number forwarded in a group message
- Verify the campaign by calling the organisation directly through a number obtained from their official website
- Reverse image search campaign photos before donating
- Be sceptical of campaigns that appear within hours of a news event — genuine organisations take time to activate
How to report it
- Report fraudulent M-Pesa fundraising numbers to Safaricom on 100 with transaction details
- Report fake charity campaigns to the NGO Coordination Board (ngocb.go.ke) in Kenya
- Report the Facebook or WhatsApp post to Meta and WhatsApp abuse teams
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a Kenyan charity's registration?
Search the NGO Coordination Board database at ngocb.go.ke using the charity name or registration number. Registered charities are required to display their registration number on all fundraising materials. If a campaign cannot provide a verifiable registration number, do not donate through it.