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Watch out for charity scams related to helping Ukraine

The outpouring of support for Ukraine has created a golden opportunity for criminals to pose as charities to steal money, snag personal information, or both.

The fraudsters are targeting people through social media, email, and phone calls, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center. In many cases, they’ve created bogus websites.

A recent BBC story notes that the UK’s national fraud reporting center has warned about fake emails pretending to raise money for victims of the war in Ukraine.

“Action Fraud has received 196 reports of bogus requests to fundraise for victims of the crisis. Scammers use a variety of methods to con donors, including selling charity T-shirts, it says. Some are even pretending to be Wladimir Klitschko, whose brother Vitali is mayor of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.”

The Identity Theft Resource Center cautions: “If you get unsolicited messages from someone about a fundraiser that you are not expecting, ignore it. Don’t give out any personal or financial information, money, or click on any links.”

The best way to avoid a Ukraine charity scam is to find reputable charities and donate to them directly.  A good place to start your search is Give.org, the BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance.

More Info: Giving to help in Ukraine? Get your money where you mean it to go

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