A heartbreaking disaster photo and a donate button. Is it real?

Reviewed by Colin Balfe on Oct 27, 2026 · Updated Oct 27, 2026 · Every fact links to its source
The short answer

Often a scam if the appeal is new, came to you through social media, a text or an email, and you can't verify the charity. Give to organizations you know, through their own website.

The check

Answer these honestly. A single "yes" to a warning sign is enough to stop.

  • Did the charity appear just after the disaster?The FTC warns to be wary of charities that pop up suddenly in connection with current events.
  • Did the appeal reach you on social media, by text or by email?The FTC says not to assume social media donation requests are legitimate, and not to click links in donation emails from senders you don't know.
  • Can you verify the charity with an independent checker?The FTC points to BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, CharityWatch and GuideStar, and to your state charity regulator to check registration.
  • Who actually runs the page?Investigators found 'local' flood relief pages run from other countries. Facebook's page transparency tools show where a page is managed.
  • Does the image look too perfect or slightly off?Look for distorted limbs, garbled text or overly smooth faces. But AI images are getting harder to spot, so the source matters more than the picture.
  • Are they asking for crypto, gift cards or a wire?The FBI says fake charities and aid groups collect donations online, in person and through cryptocurrency. Money sent by crypto, gift card or wire is very hard to get back.

If it's happening right now

Don't click the donation link. If you want to help, go directly to the website of a charity you know, or one you've checked with a charity watchdog. If you already gave, contact your card company or bank and report the page.

How this scam works

Right after a flood, hurricane, wildfire or other tragedy, posts, texts and emails ask for donations for victims.

The appeals use moving photos and videos, some real, some AI-generated or altered, sometimes with fake celebrity images, on pages that look local.

Donation links lead to look-alike or fake charity sites, or ask for payment in crypto or by gift card.

Scammers may also collect in person, posing as charities or aid groups.

The money never reaches survivors, and the page disappears or changes names after the news moves on.

What AI changes

The FBI warned in December 2024 that criminals use AI to create images of natural disasters or global conflict to get donations to fraudulent charities. After the 2025 Texas Hill Country floods, a local TV investigation found Facebook pages mixing AI-generated flood images with real ones and linking to unsafe donation sites.

What to do, step by step

  1. Pause before you give.Real relief efforts will still need help next week. Scammers rely on urgency.
  2. Check the charity yourself.Look it up on Give.org, Charity Navigator, CharityWatch or GuideStar, and check state registration through the National Association of State Charity Officials, as the FTC suggests.
  3. Give directly, and say what it's for.Type the charity's web address yourself, and designate the disaster so your money goes to relief rather than a general fund, the FTC says.
  4. If you gave to a fake charity, contact your payment provider.Ask your card company, bank or payment app to stop or reverse the payment. See the FTC's 'What To Do if You Were Scammed'.
  5. Report it.To the National Center for Disaster Fraud (866-720-5721 or justice.gov/disastercomplaintform), the FTC, and the platform where you saw the appeal.

How big this is

About $96 millionlost to fraudulent charities and disaster relief campaigns in more than 4,500 complaints to the FBI in 2024.FBI San Antonio warning, Jul 9, 2025 (via NICB)
$893 millionlost in 2025 in 22,364 complaints the FBI linked to AI, the first time its annual report had an AI section.FBI, Apr 6, 2026

Real cases

  • Central Florida. After Hurricane Melissa, the Better Business Bureau of Central Florida warned that scammers increasingly use AI to create convincing fake images, videos and social media posts to solicit donations. (FOX 35 Orlando)
  • Texas. After the Hill Country floods, News 4 San Antonio's I-Team found dozens of Facebook pages mixing AI-generated flood images, including fake celebrity photos, with real ones and linking to unsafe donation sites. Many were run from outside the US. Meta removed some flagged pages. (CBS Austin / News 4 San Antonio)
  • Texas. The FBI's San Antonio office warned that scammers pose as charities and aid groups after disasters, collecting donations in person, online or in crypto. (NICB (FBI release))

Where to report it

Questions people ask

How can I tell if a disaster photo is AI-generated?

Sometimes you can't. Distorted hands or limbs, garbled text and overly smooth faces are clues, but good fakes pass. Judge the charity, not the photo.

Is it safe to donate by text?

Confirm the number with the charity first. The FTC notes text donations are charged to your phone bill and the money doesn't arrive immediately.

How do I check if a charity is real?

Use BBB Wise Giving Alliance (Give.org), Charity Navigator, CharityWatch or GuideStar, and check whether it's registered with your state, the FTC says.

What about crowdfunding pages for individual victims?

Give to people you know, or to fundraisers verified by the platform or linked from an established local organization. The BBB says to be especially cautious with appeals on social media and crowdfunding sites.

Where do I report a fake disaster charity?

To the National Center for Disaster Fraud at 866-720-5721 or justice.gov/disastercomplaintform, and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Related

Sources

Spot an error or something out of date? Tell us; corrections are made and logged. Written with AI assistance from public sources; every fact checked and approved by Colin Balfe. General information, not legal, medical or financial advice.