Online giving is a force for good, but scammers are taking advantage of people’s willingness to help. Recent UK guidance from the Charity Commission and the Fundraising Regulator warns that fraudsters are using emails, texts, phone calls and online platforms in increasingly sophisticated ways to trick people into giving money or sharing personal information. (gov.uk)
This article explains the latest charity scam tactics, why they matter, who is most at risk, and what you can do now to protect your money and your good intentions. It uses current UK sources and guidance published in 2026. (gov.uk)
What is happening?
UK regulators say charity-related fraud is becoming more complex. In August 2026, the Charity Commission said charities are facing attacks from bad actors using increasingly sophisticated methods, and that concerns about the misuse of charitable status for private benefit rose by 29% in 2025-26. The Commission also said it passed information to other agencies 500 times in the last year, up 8% on the previous 12 months. (gov.uk)
The wider fraud picture is also worrying. The Charity Commission’s 2026 risk assessment says fraud and cyber crime now account for almost half of all crimes committed in the UK, reflecting the scale of the problem charities and donors are dealing with. (gov.uk)
At the same time, the Commission and the Fundraising Regulator have issued new public guidance on fundraising. They advise people to use reputable online fundraising platforms rather than personal bank accounts, and to report suspicious appeals as possible fraud. (gov.uk)
Why this matters
Most people who give to charity are trying to help quickly, especially after a crisis, disaster or emotional appeal. That urgency is exactly what scammers exploit. If a fake appeal succeeds, the money can be lost and the real charity may also suffer reputational harm. (gov.uk)
This matters for donors, but also for trustees, volunteers and staff. The Charity Commission says trustees and charity workers can be personally targeted as well, including through phishing emails, suspicious links and attempts to steal credentials. (gov.uk)
Who may be affected?
- People who donate online, especially on social media or through search results. (gov.uk)
- Older people or anyone less familiar with digital fundraising and payment checks. This is an inference from the common scam methods described by regulators, not a specific official statistic. (gov.uk)
- Charity trustees, staff and volunteers who handle payments, login details or donor data. (gov.uk)
- People responding to urgent appeals after a disaster, conflict or local emergency. (gov.uk)
Common charity scam tactics to watch for
The latest UK guidance does not give one single list of “new” tactics, but it does show the main methods scammers are using now. The signs below combine official warning points from the Charity Commission, Action Fraud and the FCA. (gov.uk)
- Fake donation pages that copy a real charity’s branding or name. (data.actionfraud.police.uk)
- Urgent appeals that pressure you to act immediately. (gov.uk)
- Messages sent by email, text or phone asking for payment details or personal data. (gov.uk)
- Requests to pay into a personal bank account rather than a reputable fundraising platform or the charity’s own official channel. (gov.uk)
- Social media appeals that look genuine but link to a copied page or spoof account. (gov.uk)
- Phishing aimed at charities themselves, including attempts to steal login details, which can then be used to send fake donation requests. (gov.uk)
- Cyber incidents and data misuse affecting charity systems, which can expose donor information or create opportunities for impersonation. The Commission’s August 2026 guidance on the Beacon CRM incident is an example of this risk. (gov.uk)
Warning signs that a donation may be fraudulent
- The charity name is slightly misspelled, or the website looks similar but not quite right. (data.actionfraud.police.uk)
- You are pushed to donate quickly, before you have time to check. (gov.uk)
- The appeal asks for unusual payment methods or a transfer to a personal account. (gov.uk)
- The email address, phone number or social account does not match the charity’s official details. (gov.uk)
- The message contains suspicious links or attachments. (gov.uk)
- The fundraiser cannot explain how the money will be handled, returned if unused, or passed to the charity. (gov.uk)
What readers should do now
If you want to donate safely today, take a few simple steps first. These are practical checks, and they align with current official guidance. (gov.uk)
- Go to the charity’s own website rather than clicking a link in a message or social post. (data.actionfraud.police.uk)
- Check the charity’s name and registration details on the official charity register if you are unsure. (gov.uk)
- Use a reputable online fundraising platform where appropriate, rather than paying into a personal account. (gov.uk)
- Be cautious with urgent requests, especially if they arrive by text, email or direct message. (gov.uk)
- Never share passwords or one-time codes in response to an unexpected message. (gov.uk)
- If you think an appeal is fraudulent, report it to Report Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. (gov.uk)
If you have already sent money or entered card details, contact your bank immediately. The FCA says to tell your bank straight away if you have given scammers personal information or made a payment. (fca.org.uk)
How to stay safer next time
Charity scams are easier to stop when you build a few habits into every donation. The Charity Commission recommends strong, unique passwords, updated software, careful privacy settings and scepticism about suspicious links or calls. (gov.uk)
- Bookmark the official charity websites you donate to regularly. (data.actionfraud.police.uk)
- Check for small changes in web addresses, email sender names and payment pages. (data.actionfraud.police.uk)
- Use strong, unique passwords for charity accounts and donor platforms. (gov.uk)
- Keep your phone, browser and security software updated. (gov.uk)
- Slow down if the appeal uses emotional pressure or a countdown. That is a common scam signal, based on the official guidance above. (gov.uk)
- If you are a trustee or fundraiser, review your controls for handling donations, emails and account access. (gov.uk)
What charities should do as well
This is not only a donor issue. The 2026 Charity Sector Risk Assessment says charities should strengthen fraud controls, review payment approval processes and take cyber risk seriously. It also notes that new measures under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 now apply to larger charities dealing with complex fraud risks. (gov.uk)
For charities, the practical steps include:
- training staff and volunteers to spot phishing;
- checking who can approve payments;
- reviewing donor communications for spoofing risk;
- monitoring unusual requests for refunds or payment changes;
- keeping incident response and reporting processes clear. (gov.uk)
Key takeaway
Charity scams in the UK are getting more sophisticated, but the warning signs are still often visible. If a donation request is urgent, indirect, unusual or hard to verify, pause and check before you pay. Use official charity channels, stay alert for phishing, and report anything suspicious quickly. (gov.uk)
Sources
- Charity Commission: Charities face increasingly complex attacks, warns regulator
- Charity Commission: Charity Sector Risk Assessment 2026
- GOV.UK: Raising money for charity: public guidance
- GOV.UK: Regulators join forces to remind the public of their responsibilities when fundraising
- GOV.UK: Charity fundraising: a guide to trustee duties
- FCA: Report a scam