Charity scams: How to protect yourself
On the programme on Monday 14 September 2026, Nick Stapleton from the BBC’s Scam Interceptors talked about how to spot when a charity might be fake, and what steps you can take to make sure it’s genuine.
Fundraising campaigns found online use a range of emotion tactics to hook us in. But it’s worth taking a step back before donating to make sure your money’s going to a genuine good cause.
Why charity scams can be so convincing
Nick says one of the biggest challenges with charity scams is that they often exploit some of our best qualities: kindness, compassion and a desire to help.
Fraudsters may build trust over time by providing regular updates and creating the impression that a donor's money is having a positive impact. At the same time, they can use emotional storytelling and compelling images to encourage people to keep giving.
What makes these scams particularly difficult to spot is that the photographs and videos being shared may not be fake. For example, in the dog shelter scam we featured on the programme, the animals and locations shown were real, but money donated was not being used to help the dogs. This combination can make it extremely hard to recognise that a scam is taking place.
Red flags to watch out for
If you come across a fundraising appeal online, it is worth taking a moment before donating.
Be particularly cautious if an appeal:
- Tries to provoke a strong emotional reaction.
- Pressures you to donate immediately.
- Creates a sense of urgency or crisis.
- Makes you feel guilty for not acting.
- Provides very little information about the organisation behind it.
Not every emotional appeal is fraudulent, but scammers often rely on people making quick decisions before checking whether a cause is genuine.
How to check a charity is genuine
If you want to be confident that your money is reaching a legitimate cause, there are several checks you can carry out before donating.
Look for an official website and take some time to investigate the organisation behind the appeal. You should be able to find details about its work and objectives, contact information, and examples of how donations have been used on previous campaigns.
Check official charity registers. If an organisation claims to be a registered UK charity, you can verify its details independently using official registers.
- England and Wales: Charity Commission Register of Charities https://www.gov.uk/find-charity-information
- Scotland: Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) https://www.oscr.org.uk
- Northern Ireland: Charity Commission for Northern Ireland https://www.charitycommissionni.org.uk
All registered charities carry a registered number, which can be found across its website and campaign materials.
Taking a few minutes to cross-check this information can help confirm that you're dealing with a genuine organisation rather than a copycat operation.
Don't rely solely on social media
A professional-looking social media account is not proof that a cause is genuine.
Whenever possible, leave the platform where you saw the appeal and independently verify the organisation through official websites and charity registers before making a donation.
What to do if you think you've been scammed
If you've already donated and later suspect that the appeal was fraudulent, act quickly.
- Tell your bank or payment provider as soon as possible. Scammers may have obtained payment information that could be misused or shared with other criminals. Your bank can advise on steps to protect your account and may be able to help recover any funds.
- Report the fraud to Report Fraud in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, or Police Scotland.
