The internet has democratized philanthropy, but it has also democratized fraud. 'Orphanage scams' are becoming increasingly sophisticated, moving from physical flyers to slick Instagram ads targeting Western donors.
The Mechanics of the Scam
Typically, the scam operates on three levels of deception:
- The Hook: A heartbreaking photo of a sick or crying child (Poverty Porn).
- The Urgency: A claim that the child will be evicted/starved if funds aren't sent today.
- The deflection: A request to send money via Western Union or PayPal 'Friends and Family' to avoid taxes/fees.
The Checklist for Safe Giving
Before you hit 'Donate', run this check:
- Is there a Child Protection Policy? Check their website. If face-to-face contact with children is a 'donor perk', run away.
- Who owns the bank account? Never send money to a personal name.
- Impact Reports: Do they report on outcomes (kids in school, families supported) or just activities (we gave out 100 bags of rice)?
Use our Alert List to check if an organization has been flagged for suspicious activity.