In-Memory Charity Donation Scam Impersonating the Red Cross Brand
Scammers name a widely trusted organization like the Red Cross as the requested memorial charity, then route donations through an unaffiliated link that has nothing to do with the real organization.
Part of: 'In Memory Of' Charity Donation Scam
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
Because names like the Red Cross carry instant trust and recognition, scammers frequently attach them to fake in-memory donation appeals, counting on donors to give quickly without checking whether the link actually leads anywhere near the real organization.
How this scam works on the Red Cross brand
A scammer publishes a death notice or condolence post stating that the family requests donations to the Red Cross in memory of the deceased, then attaches a payment link, QR code, or 'donate here' button that actually leads to a personal account, a cloned donation page, or a generic payment processor unaffiliated with the real Red Cross. Because the organization's name is globally recognized and its real donation process is simple, donors often do not pause to verify the link matches the actual redcross.org domain (or the equivalent national Red Cross/Red Crescent society site) before entering payment details. The scam is especially effective following news of a death connected to a disaster, health crisis, or emergency, since it plays on both grief and the public's association of the Red Cross with disaster relief.
Common red flags
- The donation link domain is not the Red Cross's own official website
- A QR code or shortened link is used instead of a direct, checkable web address
- The appeal combines a specific deceased person's name with a generic large charity rather than a cause-specific local one
- No independent confirmation from the family that the Red Cross was the actual requested charity
- Payment is requested via a personal payment app rather than the organization's standard donation processor
- The post appeared very quickly after a newsworthy death, disaster, or emergency, suggesting opportunistic timing
How to protect yourself
- Navigate directly to the Red Cross's official website (or your country's equivalent Red Cross/Red Crescent society site) rather than clicking any link in a social post
- Confirm with the family or funeral home that the Red Cross was genuinely the requested charity before donating
- Avoid scanning unfamiliar QR codes for donations; type the organization's known web address manually instead
- Check for the organization's official donation confirmation page and receipt format after giving
- Report any post using the Red Cross name without an official, verifiable donation link
- When in doubt, donate directly through the charity's main site and mention the deceased's name in the donation notes rather than using a third-party link
How to report it
- Report impersonation directly to the Red Cross's fraud or trust and safety contact listed on its official site
- Report the post or fundraiser to the platform it appeared on (Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
- File a complaint with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov if you donated to a fraudulent link
- Report to your national charity regulator if the impersonation involved a registered charity name
Frequently asked questions
Does the Red Cross use QR codes or third-party links for memorial donations?
The Red Cross directs donors to its own official website and standard donation processor; any memorial appeal using a QR code, shortened link, or third-party payment page claiming to be the Red Cross should be verified directly against the organization's own site before donating.
How can I check if a charity name used in a memorial post is being impersonated?
Search the organization's official website independently, check its listed contact information against what appears in the post, and if unsure, contact the charity directly to ask whether it is aware of the specific memorial appeal.