Protecting Against Scams: Safeguarding Donations

Protecting Against Scams: Safeguarding Donations Amidst the Ukraine-Russia Conflict

War is grief and death. And only for scammers is this a way to enrich themselves and an opportunity to deceive by playing on the brightest and kindest feelings and impulses of people - mercy and the desire to help. Since the beginning of the war between Ukraine and Russia, many people around the world began to transfer money to help the Ukrainian armed forces, purchase medicines and for those who were left homeless or were forced to move from Ukraine to other countries. Because of this, many people have become victims of online scammers and fake charities. And as the war escalates, there are more and more cases of fraud. Let's take a closer look at the most common fraud schemes and how to protect yourself from them.

Charity fraud 

Many scammers create fake charities. They appeal to potential donors to make a charitable contribution to help Ukraine and promises to use the funds received to help refugees, build new housing for those who have lost it, or to buy food and basic necessities. To collect donations, they use different methods - calls, emails, messages on social networks, advertising on popular sites. At first glance, these proposals seem legitimate and do not arouse suspicion. Especially if the fake charity has a website. There is only a small nuance - аnd if a person makes a donation, his money will never reach Ukrainian refugees. Instead, they will end up with scammers.

Very often on social networks and groups there are messages where people posing as volunteers ask for urgent donations of money to help wounded soldiers, pregnant women with children, families in trouble due to rocket attacks, and so on. This is another way that scammers use to scam you out of your money under the pretext of charity.

Stuck or Blocked Person Scam

If you receive a message or letter from someone claiming to be stuck in a war zone in Ukraine, be careful. Scammers may ask for money to buy a plane ticket or to pay for other expenses associated with leaving a dangerous area.

Scammers may even send photos to prove their story, but remember that the photos may be fake. If you received such a message on behalf of a friend or other loved one, it is better to contact your loved one through another communication channel to make sure that it is he. Or if scammers are sending a text message, try calling them. If this is a scam, then most likely they will not answer you. 

The same scheme is often used by scammers on dating sites. You can meet a charming lady there who will tell you that she needs to immediately leave Ukraine or Russia because of the war. And also that she is in love with you, and she needs money for rent at a new place of residence, for food or for a travel ticket. Unfortunately, as soon as she receives your money, communication will stop.

Funeral scam

Fraudsters often use this type of deception by posing as needing money to bury loved ones who died during military operations or to purchase travel tickets to attend a funeral. And victims often fall for this out of compassion for the loss of another. But it's important to be careful with emails and not send money to strangers through payment apps or websites.

How to avoid becoming a victim of fraud

Be wary of new charities that have emerged since the conflict began. Before responding to their request, check them online using special registries in which registration is mandatory for charitable organizations. Check if there are contacts of funds and the possibility of contacting them. Real charities have information about their management, team and access to financial statements on their page. Get clear answers from the charity about how your donation will be used and how it will be delivered to Ukraine. Be suspicious of offers to transfer money urgently. Do not provide personal information to strangers who ask for donations. Only transfer money to an official checking account and do not use untrusted payment methods such as cash, gift cards or Bitcoin. Be wary of suspicious emails and do not click on links if you doubt their authenticity.

If a request for help comes to you from an unfamiliar contact on a social network or dating application, check information about him using services and sites like AllAboutDatingScams, which provide services for verifying a person for fraud.

Conclusion

In conclusion, during times of war, scammers take advantage of people's kindness and compassion to benefit themselves. The war between Ukraine and Russia has led to an increase in fraudulent activities, with fake charities and scams targeting those who want to help. It's crucial for individuals to be careful and thorough when responding to requests for assistance, especially online. By checking if charities are legitimate, avoiding sharing personal information, and being cautious of suspicious requests, people can protect themselves from falling victim to scams.