Overview of Phony Charity Scams

Phony charity scams trick people into donating money or giving personal information to organizations that are fake or misrepresent how donations will be used. Scammers exploit highly‑emotional events (natural disasters, mass casualty incidents, celebrity tragedies) and use many contact methods, including email, social media, crowdfunding pages, phone calls, text messages, and in‑person solicitations.

MOST COMMON CHARITY SCAMS

As of November 2, 2025, below are the most common types of phony charity scams that have been reported in the U.S. and in Hawai‘i during the past two years, with supporting federal and local references.

Reported nationally after major disasters and in Hawai‘i following the 2023 Maui wildfires; authorities warned about scammers creating fake relief drives and impersonating relief organizations.

Fraudulent GoFundMe‑style pages and social posts claiming to help victims, families, or community recovery efforts have continued to appear nationwide and have been flagged by consumer groups and local media in recent years.

Email and SMS scams that mimic charities to collect payment or identity data remain a current method reported by federal consumer protection sources and advocacy groups.

Scammers calling and using spoofed numbers or prerecorded urgent appeals to solicit donations have been reported in recent national complaint summaries and local warnings.

In‑person bogus solicitors collecting cash or checks continue to be documented by state and local enforcement. Hawai‘i has warned residents about these type of solicitations after disasters.

Counterfeit donation checks are sent to nonprofits and scammers later request a refund. There have been recent alerts to nonprofits nationwide as well as thosebrought to local attention in Hawai‘i.

High‑risk payment demands remain a recurring red flag and have been repeatedly cited in federal and nonprofit advisories over the last two years.

Scammers continue to use fake celebrity endorsements or impersonations online to add legitimacy; consumer alerts and charity watchdogs list these tactics as ongoing threats.

LOSSES

There is no single, definitive dollar total that isolates losses from “phony charity” scams alone at the national level because federal agencies and reporting systems group fraud into broader categories (internet crime, charity fraud, disaster fraud, etc.), and many victims never report their loss.

Losses due to scams are tracked on an aggregate basis and not by type of scams.  For Hawaii, a report by Hawaii Business Magazine indicated that $61.6M was lost due to all types of scams in 2024.  There’s also the IC3 report, which cited a loss of $4.885B in 2024 nationwide from over 14,000 complaints.

HOW SCAMMERS OPERATE (ON-LINE & IN-PERSON)

To protect yourself from scams, it’s important to understand how scammers operate when it comes to charity scams.

  • Online methods
    Fake websites, cloned donation pages, social posts, and paid ads redirect unsuspecting consumers to scam pages, email phishing, and fake crowdfunding campaigns. They often harvest donor contact and payment data for future scams.  Scammers count on people being in a hurry and not being observant about the webpage they visit.  Impersonating a legitimate website though slight misspellings of their web address is a common technique used to make this approach effective.
  • Phone, text, and robocalls
    Scammers call or text claiming to be from a charity, sometimes spoofing phone numbers or using recorded urgent appeals to pressure immediate giving.  People tend to be more trusting of phone numbers within their same area code and scammers take advantage of this by spoofing a local phone number.  Many of these numbers are unused so are not being tracked.  Spoofing is supported by telecommunication companies operating in countries that do not regulate this behavior (such as Jamaica).
  • In‑person and street solicitations
    Individuals with clipboards, badges, or fake ID collect donations on sidewalks or at events; they may claim to be collecting for disaster relief, veterans, or first responders.  Hawaii residents tend to be trusting and often believe people who are advocating for a good cause or to help out others who are victims of a legitimate disaster.  Scammers are taking advantage of local people’s inherent politeness and tendency to believe what they are told.

PROTECT YOURSELF

Scammers are professionals and are good at what they do.  To prevent being scammed, remain vigilant when someone reaches out to ask for your help.  The following are some common red-flag indicators that a request may be fraudulent.

  • Pressure to act immediately or donate by cash/gift card/wire/crypto.
  • Vague or evasive answers about how funds will be used, no verifiable mission or address.
  • Poorly designed website with spelling/grammar errors or no secure payment processing.
  • Solicitation via unsolicited email or social post with a link to an unfamiliar donation page.
  • No proof of nonprofit status, or inability/unwillingness to provide tax ID or registration information.
  • Requests for personal identity information (SSN, DOB) when giving a donation.

One‑minute verification script to use before donating

  1. What is your organization’s exact legal name and EIN?
  2. May I have a phone number so I can call you back?
  3. Can you email a receipt and information on how funds will be used?
  4. I’ll verify and donate on your official website or by check.

HOW TO VERIFY & PROTECT YOURSELF

Following are some steps you can take to keep from falling for a scam.

  • Research the charity before donating: check official registration, read independent charity‑watch reviews, and confirm the charity’s website and contact info.
  • Give directly on the verified charity’s official website or by check made payable to the organization rather than to an individual.
  • Avoid wiring money, buying gift cards, or using unfamiliar payment apps for donations.
  • Use secure payment methods (credit card) that offer dispute protections.
  • If contacted by phone or email, independently look up the charity’s number and call back to confirm the request.
  • Keep records of donations (receipt, date, method) and monitor bank/card statements for unauthorized charges.
  • Check with the Hawaii State Attorney General’s office (https://ag.hawaii.gov/) to determine if the charity is in good standing.

Practical habits that reduce risk

  • Prioritize recurring small donations through verified payroll or the charity’s portal rather than ad‑hoc large transfers.
  • Set browser bookmarks for charities you support rather than clicking social links.
  • Add two‑step verification on email and donation accounts to limit account takeover.
  • Teach family members (especially elders) about red flags and safe ways to give.

IF YOU SUSPECT A SCAM OR IF YOU WERE SCAMMED

  • Contact your bank or card issuer immediately to dispute charges or stop payments.
  • Report the incident to the FTC (ReportFraud.ftc.gov) and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for internet‑related scams.  Also report it to the Hawaii Attorney General’s office, DCCA and the Hawaii AG Consumer Protection Division.
  • Notify the platform where the solicitation appeared (social site, crowdfunding site, payment app) so it can remove the fraudulent page.
  • Preserve evidence: screenshots, emails, phone numbers, receipts, and the exact text of messages.
  • Contact local authorities and state charity regulators if money was collected in person or the scam targeted your community.
  • Protect your identity.  Use IdentityTheft.gov to create a recovery plan and get an identity‑theft report.  Place fraud alerts or credit freezes with the three major credit bureaus.
  • Stay Healthy.  Seek emotional support from victim‑service organizations or counseling programs.

So, You’ve Been Scammed