Recover After a Charity Donation Scam
What to do if you discover that a charity appeal you donated to was fraudulent or that your donation was misappropriated.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
First 10 minutes
- Gather all records of your donation — receipts, email confirmations, payment references, and any communications with the charity
- Check whether the charity is registered with the Charity Commission (UK), the IRS Form 990 register (US), or your national charity regulator
- If you paid by card, contact your card provider immediately to report the transaction as potentially fraudulent
- Do not send any further donations regardless of follow-up contact from the same organisation
- Screenshot the charity's website and social media pages before they are removed
First 24 hours
- Report the fraudulent charity to the Charity Commission (UK), the FTC (US), or your national charity regulator
- Report to Action Fraud (UK) or the IC3 (US) with full details of the donation and the charity's contact information
- Contact the crowdfunding platform if the donation was made through GoFundMe, JustGiving, or a similar service — they have fraud reporting processes
Contact your bank or payment provider
- If paid by credit or debit card, request a chargeback citing 'misrepresentation' or 'fraud'
- If paid by bank transfer, report to your bank as an APP fraud and request a recall attempt
- Ask your bank to monitor for further debit attempts from the same payee if you set up a recurring donation
Evidence to preserve
- Save all communications, website content, and social media posts from the fraudulent charity
- Note the charity's name, registered charity number (if claimed), website URL, and any phone numbers or addresses provided
- Keep all donation receipts and payment confirmations for regulatory reports and any potential chargeback claim
Secure your accounts and devices
- If you created an account on the fake charity's website, change that password and any others that are the same
- Monitor your email for follow-up phishing attempts using your name and donation details to add credibility
- If you shared additional personal details (date of birth, address, national insurance number), consider a fraud alert with credit agencies
Report it
- Report to your national fraud/cybercrime service
- Report to the platform, bank, or provider involved
- Keep any reference numbers you're given
Most charity donation scams are small-value appeals timed to follow major disasters, conflicts, or news events. Recovery of funds is possible through chargeback (card) or bank recall (transfer), but is not guaranteed. Reporting to the charity regulator is valuable beyond your own recovery — it can trigger investigations that identify the wider network of fake appeals and protect other donors.
For future donations, use registered charities verifiable on your national charity register, donate through the charity's own official website, and be sceptical of appeals that arrive via social media advertising or unsolicited email with no traceable connection to a registered organisation.
Frequently asked questions
The charity had a convincing website and social media — how was it fake?
Fraudulent charities invest in appearing legitimate. A convincing website is not proof of legitimacy. Always check the charity's registered number against your national charity register before donating. In the UK, use the Charity Commission register; in the US, use Charity Navigator or the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
Will I get a tax deduction back if I donated to a fake charity?
Tax deductions are only available for donations to recognised, registered charitable organisations. If the charity was fraudulent, any deduction you claimed may need to be reversed in your tax return. Consult a tax adviser if you have already filed a return including this donation.