When disaster strikes, most people instinctively want to help — and scammers know it. Every major hurricane, wildfire, flood, or international crisis triggers a surge in charity scams, many of which are designed to steal money from well‑meaning donors. These schemes often appear within hours of a tragedy, using emotional stories, fake photos, and urgent pleas to pressure people into giving.
The FBI warns that charity fraud spikes after high‑profile disasters, especially through social media, crowdfunding platforms, and unsolicited messages. If you want your donation to reach real survivors, it’s essential to understand the most common scams and how to verify legitimate organizations. Here are nine scams you need to be aware of.
