They used a real charity's name. The money didn't go there.

After a disaster in the news I wanted to donate quickly, and a social post linked to a page that used a real charity’s name, logo, and story.

I entered my card on what looked like a normal checkout.

The URL was slightly wrong—extra words in the subdomain—but I did not slow down to compare it to the organisation’s main site.

I received a generic thank-you email and no tax receipt that matched the charity’s usual format.

Charity impersonation copies branding so donations go to criminals.

When I called the charity’s main line from their annual report, they said they were not running that appeal and the page I had used was fraud.

While I donated I told myself speed mattered more than double-checking URLs because people on the ground needed help that night.

The development officer confirmed no campaign matched the link I saved; that was the moment I knew the money had missed the people I meant to fund.

I felt cheated out of both the money and the good I thought I had done; reporting to payment fraud channels and the charity’s abuse inbox at least flagged the domain.

I only give through the charity’s official site—typed URL or a link from Charity Commission / IRS listings—not from random social posts.

• Donate only via the charity’s verified website or known campaigns.
• Report fake fundraising pages to the real charity and consumer fraud bodies.

For more help, see our Report a scam page and Spot and avoid scams guide.