You may have heard that the government of Ukraine is receiving
donations by cryptocurrency. Unfortunately, scammers have
heard this too and they’ve been posting on social media, as
well as sending direct messages, to trick people into sending
them money.
We’ve heard reports of dishonest people setting up accounts on
cryptocurrency exchange platforms. They’re lying and saying
that any donations they collect will help people in Ukraine.
But instead of using the official government of Ukraine’s
wallet address, they’re using their own — and the money is
going straight to scammers. Especially in these hard times,
people want to know the money to help people in Ukraine is
going where it’s needed, and not getting wasted on scammers.
So, if you want to donate to help Ukraine by using
cryptocurrency or any other payment method, and you want to be
sure your money goes where it will do the most good, slow
down.
Check out the charity organization or individual requesting
donations. Search online for the name of the group, plus words
like “review,” “scam,” or “complaint.” And see what groups
like the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, and
CharityWatch are saying about the charity you’re considering.
For more information on how to research organizations, visit
ftc.gov/charity.
Before donating money by using cryptocurrency, do an online
search of the wallet address. Confirm that you’re sending
money to the real address. Anyone can create websites and
social media posts requesting that you donate with
cryptocurrency. If someone got in touch out of the blue to ask
for money, even a donation, it might be a scam. Remember that
you can’t typically reverse cryptocurrency payments and you
can’t get the money back unless someone sends it back to you.
Visit ftc.gov/cryptocurrency for more information on avoiding
crypto scams.