How do I report a fake or fraudulent charity?
Report to the FTC (US), the Charity Commission (England and Wales), or OSCR (Scotland). Also check whether the charity is legitimately registered before donating.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Fraudulent charities exploit generosity, especially after disasters, during the holiday season, or around well-publicised causes. Before reporting, verify the charity's registration. In the US, check at pay.org or use the IRS's Tax Exempt Organization Search. In England and Wales, charities must be registered at charitycommission.gov.uk. In Scotland, use oscr.org.uk.
In the US, report deceptive charity solicitations to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general's consumer protection division. Many states require charities to register locally; fraudulent solicitations violate these registration requirements. The BBB Wise Giving Alliance also accepts complaints about charitable organisations.
In the UK, report to the Charity Commission at charitycommission.gov.uk/reporting-a-concern. The Commission investigates serious misconduct in registered charities and can remove trustees, freeze funds, or remove a charity from the register. For criminal matters, also report to Action Fraud.
If you donated via a platform like JustGiving or GoFundMe, report the campaign directly to that platform. Crowdfunding platforms have fraud teams and may be able to freeze the campaign and return donor funds if fraud is confirmed.
Common red flags
- The charity name is very similar to a well-known legitimate organisation
- Pressure to donate immediately and in cash or cryptocurrency
- The charity is not listed on an official register
- Solicitors are vague about how funds will be used
- The charity website was registered very recently
- Donation links in emails do not lead to the charity's official domain
What to do now
- Verify the charity at charitycommission.gov.uk, oscr.org.uk, or via the IRS
- Report to the FTC or Charity Commission using their online complaint forms
- Report to your state attorney general's charity fraud division
- If you donated online, report the campaign to the platform
- Request a reversal from your card issuer if you paid by card
- See /scams/charity-disaster-scams for common patterns
Frequently asked questions
Are GoFundMe campaigns checked for legitimacy?
GoFundMe performs some verification but does not guarantee every campaign is legitimate. If a campaign is fraudulent, GoFundMe's Giving Guarantee may cover donor losses. Report suspicious campaigns via the report button on the campaign page.
What if I donated to a charity and it turned out to be a scam years later?
File a report even if time has passed. The Charity Commission and FTC accept reports regardless of when the donation was made. Chargeback claims have time limits, but fraud reports do not.