How can I check a charity quickly?

Start at ftc.gov/charity, which links to the tools that show how an organization spends what it receives and whether it is registered.

Is a widely shared social media post a good sign?

No. Shares measure how moving a post is, not who receives the money. Verify the organization separately.

What payment method is safest for donations?

A credit card or a check. Both create a record and offer more options if something turns out to be wrong. Requests for gift cards, wires, cryptocurrency, or payment apps are a common sign of a scam.

Scam alert

Donation Requests After a Disaster: Giving Without Being Taken

Published September 1, 2026 · Arrives by texts, social media posts, and phone calls

The short answer

Give to organizations you already know, and start from their own website rather than from a link in a message. A charity that appears immediately after a disaster deserves a check before a donation: look it up at ftc.gov/charity. If a text asks you to donate to a short code or number, confirm that number on the charity's own site first.

What is happening

The Federal Trade Commission warned in August 2026 that fake charities follow weather emergencies and natural disasters closely. Some use names very close to well-known organizations. The appeals spread fastest on social media, where a post being widely shared says nothing about who is behind it.

How to recognize it

The organization is new, and its name is very close to one you recognize.
The request arrives as a shared social post or forwarded text rather than from the charity itself.
You are pressed to give immediately, while the need is urgent.
The only payment options offered are gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or a payment app.
The appeal thanks you for a donation you do not remember making.

What to do instead

Choose the organization first, then find its website yourself. Do not start from the link you were sent.
Look the charity up at ftc.gov/charity before giving to a name you do not know.
If you want to give by text, confirm the number on the charity's own website.
Pay by credit card or check, which leave a record, rather than by gift card, wire, cryptocurrency, or payment app.
Take the time you need. A real organization will still accept the donation tomorrow.

If it already happened

Responding to one of these is common and understandable. These steps are what people usually take next.

Contact your card company or bank promptly and explain that the charity may not be genuine.
Keep the receipt, the message, and any confirmation you received.
Report it to the FTC, which uses charity-fraud reports to spot patterns.
If you gave by gift card, call the card's issuer right away and ask whether the funds can be frozen.

Open Help Now

Common questions

How can I check a charity quickly?: Start at ftc.gov/charity, which links to the tools that show how an organization spends what it receives and whether it is registered.
Is a widely shared social media post a good sign?: No. Shares measure how moving a post is, not who receives the money. Verify the organization separately.
What payment method is safest for donations?: A credit card or a check. Both create a record and offer more options if something turns out to be wrong. Requests for gift cards, wires, cryptocurrency, or payment apps are a common sign of a scam.

Practice this safely

Practice pausing on an urgent, sympathetic request and checking the organization independently before acting.

Every story is fictional. There is no timer, no score, and no real message, payment, or account.

Start the four-story practice

Where this comes from

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More recent alerts

This alert provides general educational information drawn from the sources above. It cannot determine whether a specific message you received is genuine, investigate an incident, or promise recovery or reimbursement.