Fraud Awareness Donating safely and confidently

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Generosity, compassion and giving are often used by fraudsters to deceive others. We encourage you to stay alert and protect yourself from scams that misuse this spirit of goodwill to obtain money or personal information.

Charity related scams can occur at any time. To help you give safely and confidently, please keep the following reminders in mind.

What are the common charity-related scams to look out for?

  • Fraudsters may misuse religious or emotional appeals, creating a sense of urgency to pressure individuals to send money.
  • Fake charity requests may come through:
    • WhatsApp and SMS messages
    • Social media posts
    • Emails pretending to be from known charities
    • Sponsored or promoted online advertisements
    • Fake donation apps or websites
    • Phone calls claiming “urgent charity needs”
    • Unofficial websites, QR codes or payment links

How to donate safely?

Always verify that the organisation is officially registered and avoid making payments to:

  • Personal bank accounts
  • Individuals collecting cash donations
  • Unknown QR codes or unverified payment links

Stay protected from fraud

  • Always verify any donation request before taking action.
  • Never share your OTP, PIN, passwords or personal information even if the request appears urgent or emotional.
  • Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.
  • Check sender details such as email address, phone numbers and website URL’s for inconsistencies.
  • Do not scan QR codes sent through messages, emails, or unofficial posters.
  • If in doubt, pause and verify donation requests through the charity’s official website or approved government platforms.
  • If you receive any suspicious message or donation request, please report same through our official channels.

As you continue your acts of kindness, please take steps to protect yourself from fraudulent schemes. By staying aware and vigilant, you ensure your generosity reaches those who truly need it. For essential tips to recognize and prevent fraud, please click here.

Stay Safe online with authentic websites

If you are unsure about the authenticity of a website, you can visit the UAE Government’s Stay Safe platform: Stay Safe Website URL https://staysafe.csc.gov.ae/home

Simply copy and paste any website link you are unsure of into StaySafe. It will check multiple sources to determine whether the site is a scam, phishing attempt, or a legitimate website.

Please note these sources are not complete or error-free, as new types of phishing attempts and well-hidden scams may not be identifiable.

StaySafe is one of many tools and checks available, and additional measures should always be taken to verify the authenticity of a website.