How do I avoid charity scams after a natural disaster or major news event?

Disaster-related charity fraud is consistent and well-documented: within hours of a major earthquake, hurricane, flood, or refugee crisis, fraudulent donation sites and social media campaigns appear. They use powerful imagery from legitimate news coverage, emotional headlines, and newly registered domains that mimic established charities. The window before donors become sceptical is measured in hours.

The most important defence is donating only to organisations you can verify exist and are registered as charities before the disaster you are donating for. If an organisation you have never heard of appeared within days of the event, do not give to it. Instead, give to an established major relief organisation — Red Cross, UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières, Direct Relief — that you can verify in official charity registers.

Crowdfunding campaigns for disaster victims carry elevated risk. While some are genuine, many are not, and the platforms' verification processes do not guarantee the funds reach the stated purpose. If you want to support individuals, consider established micro-giving platforms with stronger accountability or in-country organisations recommended by major relief coordinators such as OCHA or USAID.

For phone and door-to-door solicitation around disasters, ask for the charity's full legal name, registration number, and a written confirmation of how funds are used. A legitimate charity's representative will provide this; a scammer typically becomes defensive or vague. Do not give cash at the door — ask for their website and donate directly online after verifying their registration.