Fraudsters exploit Ukraine crisis to steal money

Times of crisis bring out the best in humanity, but they also bring out the worst in scammers.

Following the outpouring of support for the people of Ukraine, we were disappointed to see the National Fraud Reporting Centre issue an urgent warning for people to be vigilant of scammers looking to exploit the crisis to steal money.

The organisation received 196 reports of bogus requests to fundraise for victims of the crisis, with some claiming to be from Wladimir Klitschko, the brother of Vitali (the mayor of Kyiv).

Let’s take a look at some of the scams circulating and how you can protect yourself.

Donation Scam

The most prevalent scam is the 'Donation Scam', where fraudsters attempt to lure you to open your wallet with elaborate, emotional fake appeals for ‘solidarity with the people of Ukraine’ or urge the public to ‘help fund the country's defense efforts’.

Advice: Donation requests from charities you don't recognise should raise a red flag. Check the charity’s legitimacy on the Charity Commission website before opening your wallet. Even if it checks out, it could still be fake. So rather than click on the link in the email, donate directly on the charity's website.

‘Helping people move out of Ukraine’ Scam

Some scams ask people to assist in ‘moving money out of Ukraine’.

Similar to the Nigerian Prince scam, victims are asked to make an advance payment or share their personal details to help.

These scams are easy to spot as they’re poorly worded and generic.

Advice: If you receive a message like this, delete it, and report it to the Financial Conduct Authority.

Cryptocurrency Scam

Some scam artists are defrauding people via cryptocurrency channels.

They use phishing emails to ask people to donate Bitcoin or Ethereum via fake crypto addresses, which they claim are connected to the Ukrainian government or prominent NGOs.

Advice: If you’re only given the option to donate in cryptocurrency, it’s fake. Report it.

Spoof Websites

Some scammers have set up ‘spoof’ websites that look like official registered charities.

Advice: Tell-tale signs include long, convoluted web or email addresses, and spelling/grammar errors.

Final Word

The best way you can help is by donating to a reputable charity such as the DEC.

Looking for reliable fundraisers to help you manage your donations? We can help. Call us on 0203 750 3111 to find out how.

 
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