Trend Micro</a></em>.</p>\r\n<p> </p>\r\n<p>During times of great human suffering, it’s only natural to want to help out. If you’re considering making a donation to help those affected by the conflict in Eastern Europe, you’ve likely wondered which charitable organization you should send it to. The truth is, there are many excellent organizations helping out, but there are also many causes appealing to your generosity that aren’t who they say they are.</p>\r\n<p>We’ve compiled some examples of the ways these deceptive organizations may contact you below, as well as a list of sites that are not what they appear to be, but in general, be extra wary of people and organizations contacting you through social media, email, or text message.</p>\r\n<p> </p>\r\n<h2><strong>Charity email scams</strong></h2>\r\n<p><br />Below are two examples of scammers looking to appeal to people’s generosity via email. Note how both messages provide cryptocurrency wallet addresses (that we’ve blurred) but don’t mention other ways to donate. When an organization only accepts donations via cryptocurrency, it’s a big sign that it’s a scam.</p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\ImageHalf","_identifier":"block-57142","data":{"imageLeft":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/01-6b0e3.jpg_900x.jpg","imageRight":null}},{"_template":"Articles\\ImageHalf","_identifier":"block-57145","data":{"imageLeft":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/02-85259.jpg_900x.jpg","imageRight":null}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-57148","data":{"text":"<h2><strong>Fake charity websites</strong></h2>\r\n<p>Lots of Ukraine-related websites have been created recently, many of which claim to be accepting donations to help those impacted by the ongoing conflict. Unfortunately, a lot of these websites are operated by scammers. Although many of the URLs listed below appear to be legitimate, they have all been confirmed as <strong>SCAM</strong> websites:</p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>helpingukraine[.]org</li>\r\n<li>support-ukraine[.]eu</li>\r\n<li>donatetoukraine[.]org</li>\r\n<li>help-for-ukraine[.]eu</li>\r\n<li>supportukraine[.]net</li>\r\n<li>supportukraine[.]io</li>\r\n<li>help-ukraine[.]org</li>\r\n<li>supportukrainenow[.]com </li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p> </p>\r\n<p>Below are some examples of these malicious websites.</p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\ImageFull","_identifier":"block-57161","data":{"image":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/03-69110.jpg_900x.jpg"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-57163","data":{"text":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\">support-ukraine[.]eu – <strong>It’s a SCAM</strong>!</p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-57176","data":{"text":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\">supportukrainenow[.]com – <strong>It’s a SCAM</strong>!</p>\r\n<p> </p>\r\n<h2><strong>Avoid scam websites with Trend Micro Check</strong></h2>\r\n<p>Trend Micro Check is a completely free all-in-one browser extension for detecting scams, phishing attacks, malware, and dangerous links. Available for Safari, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Edge.</p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Button","_identifier":"block-57189","data":{"text":"Get Trend Micro Check (It's free!)","link":"https://api.link.trendmicro.com/events/landing-page?product_id=4cc29&source=blog"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-57203","data":{"text":"<h2><strong>NFTs for sale on OpenSea</strong></h2>\r\n<p>We’ve observed people selling NFTs on the NFT marketplace OpenSea and stating that proceeds from sales will be sent to those affected by the conflict. However, because it is likely that these independent sellers are not affiliated with any legitimate charity helping people in Ukraine, if you are looking to donate, it is best to do so through other means.</p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\ImageFull","_identifier":"block-57216","data":{"image":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/05-3d651.jpg_900x.jpg"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-57218","data":{"text":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Several Ukraine-related NFTs for sale on OpenSea. Source: Reddit</p>\r\n<h2> </h2>\r\n<h2><strong>Appeals for donations on social media</strong></h2>\r\n<p>Scammers have been posting on various social media platforms, claiming to be Ukrainian citizens in need of financial assistance. They’re not hard to spot, either — they commonly ask for the transfer of cryptocurrency or money via PayPal.</p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\ImageFull","_identifier":"block-57231","data":{"image":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/06-3d7bf.jpg_900x.jpg"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-57233","data":{"text":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\">A scammer on Twitter asking for Bitcoin. Source: Reddit</p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\ImageFull","_identifier":"block-57246","data":{"image":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/07-bf9a1.jpg_900x.jpg"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-57248","data":{"text":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\">A scammer posting to Reddit. Source: Reddit</p>\r\n<p> </p>\r\n<h2><strong>YouTube livestream charity donation scam</strong></h2>\r\n<p>One particularly deceptive Ukraine-related scam occurred on YouTube recently. Scammers renamed an existing YouTube channel to “Government of Ukraine” and held a highly convincing livestream designed to encourage viewers to donate cryptocurrency to people affected by the conflict in Eastern Europe. Although YouTube has since closed the fraudulent channel, please watch out for similar scams.</p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\ImageFull","_identifier":"block-57261","data":{"image":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/08-dd41c.jpg_900x.jpg"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-57263","data":{"text":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\">The fraudulent YouTube livestream. Source: Reddit</p>\r\n<p> </p>\r\n<h2><strong>Some things to think about before donating</strong></h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Research the organization to see if it has a good rating.</li>\r\n<li>Find out what percentage of your donation will go directly to relief efforts.</li>\r\n<li>Ensure the charity has previous experience working with people in the impacted area.</li>\r\n<li>Ask if the charity has experience in emergency relief.</li>\r\n</ul>"}}],"sidebarBlocks":[{"_template":"Small\\Content\\Cta","_identifier":"block-157084","data":{"title":"Report a Scam!","consumer":null,"description":"Have you fallen for a hoax, bought a fake product? Report the site and warn others!","image":"https://files.scamadviser.com/thumbs/tell-your-story-8910e.png_200x200.png","button":"Report a Scam!","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/leave-review"}},{"_template":"Small\\Content\\Taxonomy","_identifier":"block-157123","data":{"title":"Scam Categories","taxonomies":[{"id":7,"name":"Scam Alerts (1025)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-alerts"},{"id":6,"name":"Scam Trends (372)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-trends"},{"id":8,"name":"Global Scam Country Guide (44)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/global-scam-country-guide"},{"id":87,"name":"Product Reviews (43)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/product-reviews"},{"id":88,"name":"Fact Check (43)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/fact-check"},{"id":3,"name":"News about Scamadviser (42)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/news-about-scamadviser"},{"id":5,"name":"Reliable Sites (37)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/reliable-sites"},{"id":1,"name":"Tips & Support (32)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/tips-support"},{"id":2,"name":"Research & Reports (26)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/research-reports"},{"id":4,"name":"Advice for Companies (2)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/advice-for-companies"}]}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Heading","_identifier":"block-59407","data":{"align":"left","text":"Help & Info","size":"large"}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157795","data":{"articles":[{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157824","data":{"title":"Scam Alerts","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-alerts","icon":"fa-exclamation-triangle","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-scam-alert-f348b.svg"}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157839","data":{"title":"Learn Scams","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-trends","icon":"fa-tags","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-learn-scam-737a6.svg"}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157854","data":{"title":"Reliable Sites","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/reliable-sites","icon":"fa-check-circle","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-website-213fb.svg"}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157869","data":{"title":"Advices","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/advice-for-companies","icon":"fa-comment","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-advice-f32d8.svg"}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157884","data":{"title":"Studies","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/research-reports","icon":"fa-search","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-report-ebc61.svg"}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-161131","data":{"title":"Global Scams","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/global-scam-country-guide","icon":"fa-globe","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-global-scam-005ad.svg"}}],"buttonText":"See all","buttonLink":"https://www.scamadviser.com/help-info"}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Heading","_identifier":"block-167997","data":{"align":"left","text":"Top Safety Picks","size":"large"}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Lists","_identifier":"block-167811","data":{"heading":"Your Go-To Tools for Online Safety","hint":"Disclaimer: Some of the links here are affiliate links. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.","description":null,"listItems":[{"_template":"Default\\Items\\ListItem","_identifier":"block-167891","data":{"title":"ScamAdviser App - iOS","titleUrl":"https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scamadviser/id6480509109","linkTarget":"1","text":"Your personal scam detector, on the go! Check website safety, report scams, and get instant alerts. Available on iOS"}},{"_template":"Default\\Items\\ListItem","_identifier":"block-167944","data":{"title":"ScamAdviser App - Android","titleUrl":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tech.scamadviser","linkTarget":"1","text":"Your personal scam detector, on the go! Check website safety, report scams, and get instant alerts. 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Reclaim your privacy now!"}}]}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Heading","_identifier":"block-59517","data":{"align":"left","text":"Popular Stories","size":"large"}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Blogs","_identifier":"block-59530","data":{"items":[{"id":1406,"title":"7 Best VPN Services for Security, Speed, and Privacy","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/7-best-vpn-services-for-security-speed-and-privacy","excerpt":"In a nutshell: A good VPN protects your privacy with strong encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and fast protocols like WireGuard. The best VPNs also offer wide server coverage, leak protection, and easy-to-use apps for all devices. For 2025, the top providers are NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost, and Mullvad—each excelling in speed, security, or value.\r\n\r\nIn an age where every click is tracked, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is no longer just a luxury—it's an essential tool for digital privacy and security. A VPN works by creating a secure, encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet, masking your real IP address and protecting your sensitive data from prying eyes.\r\nBut with hundreds of providers out there, how do you sort the secure from the suspect? This guide breaks down the non-negotiable features of a quality VPN and highlights the 7 top-rated services for 2025.\r\nWhat to Look for in a Good VPN: The 4 Non-Negotiable Pillars\r\n1. Ironclad Security Features\r\n\r\nStrong Encryption: AES-256, the gold standard.\r\nSecure Protocols: OpenVPN, WireGuard, NordLynx, Lightway. Avoid PPTP.\r\nKill Switch: Ensures no accidental IP leaks.\r\nLeak Protection: Covers DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC.\r\n\r\n2. Verified Privacy Practices\r\n\r\nNo-Logs Policy: No activity or metadata tracking.\r\nIndependent Audits: Verification by third parties.\r\nSafe Jurisdiction: Prefer countries outside the 5/9/14 Eyes alliances.\r\n\r\n3. High-Speed Performance\r\n\r\nFast Protocols: WireGuard and equivalents.\r\nLarge Server Network: Less crowding, more reliable speeds.\r\n\r\n4. Essential Usability Features\r\n\r\nMulti-Device Apps: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, routers.\r\nSimultaneous Connections: One account, many devices.\r\nUnblocking Power: Netflix, Hulu, BBC ","buttonText":"Read more","renderAsInertiaLink":false},{"id":1475,"title":"Data Breach Victim? Your Emergency Action Plan Starts Now","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/data-breach-victim-your-emergency-action-plan-starts-now","excerpt":"How to Protect Yourself and Your Family After a Data Breach\r\nWhen Your Data Falls Into the Wrong Hands\r\nJust received that terrifying notification? Or perhaps you've noticed suspicious activity in your accounts? Take a deep breath. A data breach, the unauthorized access or exposure of sensitive, protected, or confidential data, is a deeply unsettling event. It can plunge you into a world of worry, bringing risks from financial losses and identity theft to significant emotional distress and reputational damage.\r\nThe numbers don't lie: according to a 2024 report, the number of data breach victim notices has grown by a staggering 211% year-over-year. This isn't just a distant threat; it's a stark reality many individuals face. This year alone, we've seen major organizations like Adidas and Qantas grapple with high-profile data breaches, affecting countless customers. This underscores a critical truth: nobody is untouchable. Subsequently, strategic action is the only way to minimize the risk and protect your future.\r\nThis guide is your emergency action plan, designed to walk you through every crucial step—from confirming the breach to fortifying your digital life for the long term.\r\nPart 1: Confirming the Breach and Understanding the Damage\r\nThe very first step is to answer the question definitively: Was my data compromised, and if so, how badly?\r\nStart with the basics:\r\n\r\nCheck Official NotificationsReputable companies are legally obligated to inform you if your data was part of a breach. Look for official emails, letters, or public announcements.\r\nCheck Verified Breach DatabasesPlatforms like HaveIBeenPwned help you see if","buttonText":"Read more","renderAsInertiaLink":false}]}}],"meta":{"title":"Ongoing Charity Scams — What to Watch Out For","description":"Check if a website is a scam website or a legit website. 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This article is from Trend Micro.
During times of great human suffering, it’s only natural to want to help out. If you’re considering making a donation to help those affected by the conflict in Eastern Europe, you’ve likely wondered which charitable organization you should send it to. The truth is, there are many excellent organizations helping out, but there are also many causes appealing to your generosity that aren’t who they say they are.
We’ve compiled some examples of the ways these deceptive organizations may contact you below, as well as a list of sites that are not what they appear to be, but in general, be extra wary of people and organizations contacting you through social media, email, or text message.
Charity email scams
Below are two examples of scammers looking to appeal to people’s generosity via email. Note how both messages provide cryptocurrency wallet addresses (that we’ve blurred) but don’t mention other ways to donate. When an organization only accepts donations via cryptocurrency, it’s a big sign that it’s a scam.
Fake charity websites
Lots of Ukraine-related websites have been created recently, many of which claim to be accepting donations to help those impacted by the ongoing conflict. Unfortunately, a lot of these websites are operated by scammers. Although many of the URLs listed below appear to be legitimate, they have all been confirmed as SCAM websites:
- helpingukraine[.]org
- support-ukraine[.]eu
- donatetoukraine[.]org
- help-for-ukraine[.]eu
- supportukraine[.]net
- supportukraine[.]io
- help-ukraine[.]org
- supportukrainenow[.]com
Below are some examples of these malicious websites.
support-ukraine[.]eu – It’s a SCAM!
supportukrainenow[.]com – It’s a SCAM!
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NFTs for sale on OpenSea
We’ve observed people selling NFTs on the NFT marketplace OpenSea and stating that proceeds from sales will be sent to those affected by the conflict. However, because it is likely that these independent sellers are not affiliated with any legitimate charity helping people in Ukraine, if you are looking to donate, it is best to do so through other means.
Several Ukraine-related NFTs for sale on OpenSea. Source: Reddit
Appeals for donations on social media
Scammers have been posting on various social media platforms, claiming to be Ukrainian citizens in need of financial assistance. They’re not hard to spot, either — they commonly ask for the transfer of cryptocurrency or money via PayPal.
A scammer on Twitter asking for Bitcoin. Source: Reddit
A scammer posting to Reddit. Source: Reddit
YouTube livestream charity donation scam
One particularly deceptive Ukraine-related scam occurred on YouTube recently. Scammers renamed an existing YouTube channel to “Government of Ukraine” and held a highly convincing livestream designed to encourage viewers to donate cryptocurrency to people affected by the conflict in Eastern Europe. Although YouTube has since closed the fraudulent channel, please watch out for similar scams.
The fraudulent YouTube livestream. Source: Reddit
Some things to think about before donating
- Research the organization to see if it has a good rating.
- Find out what percentage of your donation will go directly to relief efforts.
- Ensure the charity has previous experience working with people in the impacted area.
- Ask if the charity has experience in emergency relief.
Report a Scam!
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When Your Data Falls Into the Wrong Hands
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