Make sure you don’t fall for non-profits that you’ve never heard of
The Russian invasion of Ukraine may make you want to provide a hand, but don’t fall for charity fraudsters, ESET advised in a blog post yesterday (Feb. 28).
Researcher Tomá Foltn noted, “ESET researchers have found a swarm of websites soliciting money under the pretence of philanthropic objectives.” To riff on this topic, they often make emotive but phoney pleas to sympathy with the Ukrainian people or to public funding for military activities in their nation.
One bogus website screams “As if that weren’t bad enough, “The Ukraine situation is dreadful,” he continues, “and they need our help.” Donations are accepted to help those in need “noting that American Express, Apple Pay, MasterCard and PayPal are all accepted.
Another shows the Ukrainian flag in blue and yellow and encourages users to “Buy Ukraine Token.”‘ We are using an experienced crypto project team to ensure the greatest success for our project,” it says, adding that “regular contributions will be given as well as development for the token and project long term.” A third website simply reads “STOP WAR IN UKRAINE” and has a donate button next to the message. ‘
As long as you don’t mind reading the fine print, none of these sites guarantee that any money donated will really be used to help Ukraine’s victims.
‘Aid’ promises made on the Internet are sometimes unclear, according to Foltn. All of them are clearly not affiliated with any reputable organisation, as should be apparent upon closer study.”
Help-for-ukraine[.eu], tokenukraine[.com], supportukraine[.]today, ukrainecharity[.]gives, ukrainesolidarity[.]org and the like were identified in an ESET blog post as possible Ukraine-charity scam sites. Avoid these links if you find yourself on one.
Foltn said that it’s not simply phoney websites that are pursuing your hard-earned cash. The email, which claimed to be from a destitute Ukrainian widow asking for Bitcoin to feed her two kids, was posted on Reddit late last week. Foltn warned that you may come across similar pleas on social media.
When donating to Ukrainian rescue efforts, the researcher cautioned that you should only work with reputable organisations. Don’t give bitcoin, gift cards, or wire transfers over email, text message, or social media.
Go to the websites of well-known organisations like Red Cross, Save the Children, UNICEF or Doctors Without Borders instead,” Foltn added. Additionally, we’ve put up a list of ways you may donate to Ukraine. Source