FBI
Amanda Warford Videll
media.jacksonville@fbi.gov
November 27, 2023

FBI Jacksonville Warns of Charity Fraud Amid Conflicts

Jacksonville, Fla. – FBI Jacksonville warns that criminals are soliciting fake humanitarian donations during the Israel-Hamas conflict. The FBI has received multiple complaints, including legitimate email addresses of Israel-based individuals being hacked or spoofed to solicit donations. The FBI also previously warned of fundraising scams related to the crisis in Ukraine.

Charity scams are prevalent during the holiday giving season, as well as in times of increased conflict such as war, natural disasters, or epidemics. Criminals identify populations in need, some devastated by catastrophes, and use these events to exploit members of the public who support humanitarian efforts. Perpetrators may claim to represent established charities or new charities developed to support emergent conflicts.

Common red flags include:

  • Unsolicited emails or calls seeking donations.
  • Requests for payment via cash, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency are often used by criminals because they are difficult to track.

To avoid charity fraud:

  • Research charities online and verify their contact information before donating.
  • Confirm the charity is registered with the Internal Revenue Service: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search
  • Look up the organization’s website rather than clicking on links. If giving to a well-known established charity, ensure that you are using the correct website. Criminals may engage in “domain spoofing” or “URL hijacking” to create URLs and sites that are similar in appearance to those of known organizations.

FBI Jacksonville reminds the public that charity fraud scams are serious crimes with very real consequences. Report violations to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov) or dial 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Additional resources: