Charity and Disaster Scams: Warning Signs and How to Check a Charity

A charity scam is a request for a donation that ends up with a scammer instead of the cause it names. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says "Charity scammers want to get your money quickly. They often pressure you to donate right away. They ask for cash, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers," and they "might even lie and say you already made a pledge to donate." The FBI warns that these schemes follow disasters and mass casualty events, when scammers pose as relief groups, as victims, or as disaster agencies such as FEMA.

Before you give, look the charity up in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search, check that it is registered with your state's charity regulator, and pay by credit card or check, which the FTC calls the safest way to donate. If you already gave to a charity you now doubt: contact your card issuer, bank or payment app right away, check your statements for repeat charges, and report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the FBI at ic3.gov. Our guide on how to get money back after a scam explains what each payment method allows.

Information last verified on October 3, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers United States federal law and federal agency guidance on charity, crowdfunding and disaster-relief scams: the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 310), the federal wire fraud, impersonation and disaster-benefit fraud statutes (18 U.S.C. §§ 1343, 912 and 1040), and published warnings from the FTC, the FBI and its Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), FEMA and the IRS. It does not cover the details of each state's charity registration law or the policies of individual crowdfunding platforms. Refund rights by payment method are on our money-back guide, not here.

Warning signs of a charity scam

The FTC and FBI describe the same handful of tells. One alone proves nothing. Two or more, especially once someone asks how you will pay, are the reason to stop and check before you give.

• Pressure to give right now. The FTC says charity scammers "often pressure you to donate right away." The FBI puts it the same way: "Recognize that pressure to "act fast" might be a sign of a scam."
• An odd way to pay. The FTC says: "If a charity says the only way to pay is with cryptocurrency, wiring money through Western Union or MoneyGram, a payment app, or a gift card, it's likely a scam." It adds: "If the charity doesn't accept checks or credit cards, it's likely a scam."
• A name that sounds almost right. "Listen carefully to the name of the charity, write it down, and then research it," the FTC advises. "Some scammers use names that sound a lot like real charities to confuse you."
• Thanks for a pledge you never made. The FTC warns that scammers may "lie and say you already pledged to donate, or that you donated to them last year." They are counting on you to feel you owe the money.
• Lots of emotion, few details. The FTC says to "Watch for sentimental claims with few details." Scammers also "often refuse to send you information about the charity. They won't answer questions or explain how the money will be used."
• A prize for giving. "If someone guarantees you'll win a prize or contest if you contribute, that's a scam," according to the FTC.
• An unexpected text, post or link. For a donation request by text, the FTC says "don't use the information in the text message. Contact the charity or visit its website and donate directly." It also warns: "Don't assume these requests are legitimate, or that hyperlinks are accurate just because a friend posted it."
• A fake victim, celebrity or relief agency. The FBI says scammers "may pose as disaster relief agencies to collect personal information, conduct charitable fraud schemes, or commit fraud against disaster assistance programs," and may "impersonate official entities, celebrities, influencers, or other individuals." It adds that "Artificial Intelligence (AI) may be used to increase perceived legitimacy of a fraud or impersonation."
• Someone from FEMA who wants money. The FTC says FEMA impersonators "offer services like disaster grants or home inspections for a fee, usually cash up front. But these are scams: FEMA doesn't charge people for disaster assistance." The FEMA section below has the details.

Many of these tells overlap with other scams. Requests to pay by gift card, cryptocurrency or a payment app such as Zelle each have their own guide, and look-alike links are covered in our guide to phishing, smishing and vishing.

How to check a charity before you give

These steps come from the FTC's guidance on giving to charity and the FBI's January 2025 public service announcement.

1. Get the exact name, website and mailing address. The FTC suggests asking a caller for "the charity's exact name, website, and mailing address" and writing the name down.
2. Look it up in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. The IRS tool lets you "check an organization's eligibility to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions (Pub 78 Data)" and "search for information about an organization's tax-exempt status and filings." The FTC tells donors to "confirm that the organization you're donating to is registered with the IRS as a tax-exempt organization."
3. Check registration with your state. "Most states require charities and their fundraisers to register with the state regulator," the FTC says. "Check to see if a fundraiser and the charity they're calling on behalf of are registered with your state's charity regulator." The FTC points to nasconet.org to find yours. NASCO, the National Association of State Charity Officials, is "an association of state offices (attorneys general, secretaries of state and other offices) charged with the regulation and oversight of charitable organizations and charitable solicitation in the United States."
4. Search for complaints. The FTC suggests searching the charity's name with words like "complaint," "review," "rating," "fraud" or "scam," and checking the charity's own website for detail about its programs. The FBI also suggests looking for news articles, reviews or posts linking the charity to fraud.
5. Ask where the money goes. On a fundraising call, the FTC says, "The caller is most likely a paid fundraiser, not the charity itself." Ask how much of your gift goes to the program, then call the organization directly and ask again.
6. Ask whether it is a charity at all. Some calls that sound like charity calls come from a political action committee. The FTC notes that "Donations to PACs aren't tax-deductible."
7. Confirm a text-to-give number. "If someone asks you to donate by text, call the number on the charity's website to confirm you have the right number to donate by text," the FTC says.
8. Pay by credit card or check. The FTC calls this "the safest way to donate," and says that if you donate, "paying by credit card gives you more protections."

The FTC names two outside charity evaluators in its guidance, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance (Give.org) and Charity Watch. Those are private organizations, not government agencies. The government checks are the IRS search and your state charity regulator.

What a legitimate fundraising call must do

The FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR), 16 C.F.R. Part 310, covers for-profit telemarketers who solicit charitable contributions for a charity. The FTC says tax-exempt charities that do their own telemarketing are not covered by the rule. It applies to telemarketing, which the rule defines in 16 C.F.R. § 310.2 as a plan "conducted to induce the purchase of goods or services or a charitable contribution, by use of one or more telephones and which involves more than one interstate telephone call." It is a telephone rule. It does not govern a social media post or someone at your door.

The core of the rule for donors is 16 C.F.R. § 310.3(d), which lists the lies a for-profit telemarketer calling for a charity may not tell:

It is a fraudulent charitable solicitation, a deceptive telemarketing act or practice, and a violation of this part for any telemarketer soliciting charitable contributions to misrepresent, directly or by implication, any of the following material information: (1) The nature, purpose, or mission of any entity on behalf of which a charitable contribution is being requested; (2) That any charitable contribution is tax deductible in whole or in part; (3) The purpose for which any charitable contribution will be used; (4) The percentage or amount of any charitable contribution that will go to a charitable organization or to any particular charitable program; (5) Any material aspect of a prize promotion ...; or (6) A charitable organization's or telemarketer's affiliation with, or endorsement or sponsorship by, any person or government entity.

Separately, § 310.3(a)(4) bars "Making a false or misleading statement to induce any person to pay for goods or services or to induce a charitable contribution."

The rule also controls how the call is made and how you can pay:

• The caller must say who and why. Under 16 C.F.R. § 310.4(e), an outbound charitable call must disclose "(1) The identity of the charitable organization on behalf of which the request is being made; and (2) That the purpose of the call is to solicit a charitable contribution."
• No cash-to-cash transfers or reload packs. Section 310.4(a)(10) bars "Accepting from a customer or donor, directly or indirectly, a cash-to-cash money transfer or cash reload mechanism as payment ... as a charitable contribution solicited or sought through telemarketing." This rule names those two payment types only; it does not mention gift cards.
• Calling hours, caller ID and robocalls. In its plain-language summary, the FTC says fundraisers can't call "before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.," must disclose their name and purpose, and can't use a robocall or prerecorded message to reach you "unless you're a member of the charity or a prior donor," with a way to opt out. The caller ID "has to show the name of the charity or fundraiser, along with a number you can call to ask to be placed on the charity's do not call list."
• The Do Not Call Registry does not stop charity calls. The FTC says "Fundraising calls are allowed even if your number is on the National Do Not Call Registry." To stop them, ask the fundraiser to put you on the charity's own do not call list.

The FTC enforces these rules alongside state officials. In March 2021, the FTC said a joint action with state officials "has stopped a massive telefunding operation that bombarded 67 million consumers with 1.3 billion deceptive charitable fundraising calls (mostly illegal robocalls)," and said the defendants "collected more than $110 million" and agreed to settle. In March 2024, the FTC alleged that Cancer Recovery Foundation, Inc. "was a sham charity that lied to donors about how their donations would be spent," and that cancer patients "got only about 1% of the $18.25 million donated." That case was an allegation when filed; we have not confirmed its outcome.

A fake charity pitch made by phone, text or online can also be a federal crime. Prosecutors can charge it as wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1343, which carries up to 20 years in prison, or up to 30 years when the fraud affects a financial institution or involves benefits paid in connection with a declared major disaster or emergency.

Crowdfunding: who actually gets the money

A crowdfunding campaign is not a charity, even when it raises money for a disaster or a family in crisis. The FTC explains: "The money raised goes to the campaign organizer." And: "The campaign organizer controls how the money is spent. They might take out a fee for their services or not even deliver the money to the intended person or cause."

The FTC's advice for giving through crowdfunding:

• Give to people you know. "The safest way to give through a crowdfunding campaign is to donate to campaigns organized by people you know and trust."
• Check the photos. "Do a reverse image search of photos used on the crowdfunding campaign page." The FTC warns that "Scammers often use stolen photos and copy and paste other people's stories." The FBI gives the same advice and adds that a scammer "might pose online as a high-profile victim to solicit donations."
• Research the organizer and the cause. The FBI suggests researching who is behind the request, who it is meant to benefit, and whether the need is legitimate.
• Know it is not deductible. "Donations to individuals are not tax deductible," the FTC says.

Online giving platforms that pass donations on to charities work differently from crowdfunding, but the FTC still cautions that the money "may not go directly to the charity you chose" and that the platform may keep a fee. Read the platform's disclosures about fees, tax receipts and timing before you give.

Disaster relief and FEMA impersonation scams

After hurricanes, floods, wildfires and other disasters, two scams run side by side: fake relief charities asking for donations, and fake government officials targeting the people who were hit. The FBI's January 2025 announcement says scammers "exploit mass casualty events and disasters ... to commit fraud by soliciting fake charitable donations to support victims or their families."

FEMA's own warnings are short and consistent:

• FEMA does not charge. A March 2025 FEMA release says: "FEMA will never charge applicants for disaster assistance or help with applications, appeals or inspections. FEMA inspectors will not ask for banking information." The FTC adds that FEMA employees "will never ask for money for inspections, disaster assistance, debris removal, grants, help with applications, or appeals."
• Check the badge. FEMA says to ask inspectors to show identification because "contractors working for FEMA always wear an official government badge to identify themselves." The FTC warns that "scammers sometimes make fake badges or wear FEMA-branded clothing."
• FEMA contacts applicants, not strangers. According to the FTC, "FEMA only contacts people who've contacted them or applied for FEMA disaster assistance, and the agency never sends texts demanding money or personal information."
• No fee to help you qualify. The FTC says that if someone wants money to help you qualify for FEMA funds, "it's a scam," and that "FEMA doesn't charge application fees."

A different risk: someone may file for FEMA aid in your name. In an April 2026 release, FEMA said "thieves try to apply for FEMA assistance using names, addresses and Social Security numbers they have stolen from people affected by the disaster. If a FEMA housing inspector contacts you and you did not submit a FEMA application, your information may have been used without your knowledge." FEMA asks anyone who gets a FEMA letter without applying to call the FEMA Helpline. Our guide on what to do when a scammer has your information covers the identity steps that follow.

If you are not sure someone really works for FEMA, contact FEMA directly using the contact details on FEMA's website rather than any number the visitor or caller gives you. FEMA also runs a Disaster Fraud Hotline for tips, but FEMA's own 2025 and 2026 releases printed different numbers for it, so we do not list one here.

Pretending to be a federal employee to get money is a crime under 18 U.S.C. § 912, which covers someone who falsely pretends to be a federal officer or employee and acts as such, or "in such pretended character demands or obtains any money, paper, document, or thing of value." It carries up to three years in prison. Fraud involving disaster benefits, such as a FEMA application filed with stolen information, can fall under 18 U.S.C. § 1040, which carries up to 30 years in prison. For impostors posing as other agencies, see our guide to government impersonation scams.

Tax deductions: what a scam pitch gets wrong

A promise of a tax deduction is a common hook, and a false one is itself a violation of the Telemarketing Sales Rule when a for-profit telemarketer calling for a charity makes it (16 C.F.R. § 310.3(d)(2)). The IRS rule is simple: "Gifts to individuals are not deductible. Only qualified organizations are eligible to receive tax deductible contributions," according to IRS Tax Topic 506. The IRS points to the Tax Exempt Organization Search to check whether an organization qualifies.

That rules out deductions for gifts to crowdfunding campaigns that help an individual and for gifts to PACs. For tax year 2026 onward, Tax Topic 506 says that "if you do not itemize, you may deduct up to $1,000 ($2,000 if filing jointly) of your cash contributions to certain qualified organizations." Keep a record of every donation; for cash gifts Tax Topic 506 calls for a bank record or a written communication. Some IRS pages still show pandemic-era rules from 2020, so rely on Tax Topic 506 or a tax professional for current limits.

What to do if you already gave to a fake charity

Move quickly. The faster you reach the company that moved your money, the better your chance of stopping or reversing the payment.

1. Stop giving and stop talking to them. The FBI says that if you have already donated and believe you were scammed, "do not pay additional fees or taxes to obtain a refund of your money. Do not pay for any services that claim they can recover lost funds."
2. Contact the company you paid through. Call your card issuer, bank, payment app or wire service, say the payment went to a scammer, and ask what can be done. The FTC says paying by credit card gives you more protections. What each method allows, and the deadlines, are in our guide on how to get money back after a scam.
3. Check your statements. The FTC says to make sure "you're only charged the amount you agreed to donate" and "that you're not signed up to make a recurring donation if you didn't mean to."
4. Protect your information if you shared it. If you gave a bank account number, card number or Social Security number, or if FEMA tells you an application was filed in your name, follow the steps in a scammer has my information.
5. Write down the details. The FBI asks for the name, phone number, address, email and social media handles of the person or charity; the date, type, amount and receiving account or cryptocurrency address of each payment; and how the contact started and what you were told.
6. Report it. See the next section.

If an older relative gave to a fake charity, see our guide to elder fraud.

Where to report a charity or disaster scam

Report to the FTC and the FBI, then to whoever oversees the specific kind of scam. Our guide on where to report a scam explains what each agency does with a report.

In a charity report, the FTC asks for "the name of the fundraiser who contacted you, the name, phone number, website, and address of the charity, and any other details the fundraiser gave about the charity."

How many charity scams are reported

In the FBI's IC3 2025 Internet Crime Report, the crime type "Charity" had 662 complaints and $7,907,609 in reported losses in 2025. IC3 defines that category as "Using deception to get money from individuals believing they are making donations to legitimate charities and/or charities representing victims of natural disasters shortly after the incident occurs." The figure counts only people who reported to IC3, and the report did not capture this category in 2023 or 2024, so it offers no year-over-year comparison.

Related guides

• Scams and fraud: federal law and how to protect yourself, including our state-by-state guides
• How to get money back after a scam
• Where to report a scam
• Government impersonation scams
• A scammer has my information
• Gift card scams
• Elder fraud
• When a lawyer helps after a scam
• Home Repair and Contractor Scams
• How to Tell if Something Is a Scam

Last updated: October 3, 2026.

This article is general legal information, not legal advice. It covers US federal law and federal agency guidance as verified on October 3, 2026. For your specific situation, contact the bank or payment company you used, the agencies named above, or a lawyer licensed in your state.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if a charity is a scam?

The FTC says charity scammers pressure you to donate right away, ask for cash, gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers, refuse to explain how the money is used, and may claim you already pledged. A name that sounds almost like a well-known charity is another warning sign.

How do I check if a charity is legitimate?

Look it up in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search, which shows whether it can receive tax-deductible gifts, and check that it is registered with your state charity regulator, which the FTC says you can find through nasconet.org.

What is the safest way to donate to charity?

The FTC says to donate by credit card or check, calling it the safest way to donate, and says paying by credit card gives you more protections. A charity that will not accept a check or credit card is likely a scam, according to the FTC.

Is it safe to donate on a crowdfunding site?

The FTC says the money goes to the campaign organizer, who controls how it is spent, and that the safest way to give is to campaigns organized by people you know and trust. Reverse-search the campaign photos, since scammers often use stolen photos and stories.

Are crowdfunding donations tax deductible?

Not when they go to an individual. The FTC and IRS Tax Topic 506 both say gifts to individuals are not deductible; only qualified organizations can receive deductible contributions.

Does FEMA charge for inspections or help with applications?

No. FEMA says it will never charge applicants for disaster assistance or for help with applications, appeals or inspections, and its inspectors will not ask for banking information. Anyone asking for a fee is not FEMA.

What if FEMA contacts me but I never applied?

FEMA says that if an inspector contacts you and you did not apply, your information may have been used without your knowledge, and it asks people who get a FEMA letter without applying to call the FEMA Helpline. Contact FEMA through fema.gov, not a number the caller gives you.

What should I do if I donated to a fake charity?

Contact your card issuer, bank or payment app right away, check your statements for extra or recurring charges, and report it to the FTC and the FBI at ic3.gov. The FBI says not to pay fees or taxes to get a refund, or pay anyone who claims they can recover your money.

Where do I report a charity scam?

Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state charity regulator, which the FTC says you can find at nasconet.org. The FBI asks victims of scams tied to disasters and mass casualty events to file at ic3.gov.

Can a charity call me if I am on the Do Not Call Registry?

Yes. The FTC says fundraising calls are allowed even if your number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. Ask the fundraiser to put you on the charity's own do not call list.

Is it illegal to lie in a charity fundraising call?

Yes, when a paid telemarketer makes the call. Under 16 C.F.R. 310.3(d), it is a fraudulent charitable solicitation for a telemarketer to misrepresent the charity's mission, whether a gift is tax deductible, how the money will be used, how much goes to the program, or any affiliation with a government entity. A charity calling on its own behalf is outside that rule, but a fraudulent donation pitch by phone can still be charged as federal wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. 1343.

How many charity scams are reported each year?

The FBI's IC3 2025 Internet Crime Report lists 662 complaints and $7,907,609 in reported losses for its Charity crime type in 2025. It counts only people who reported to IC3.