HELENA – Attorney General Austin Knudsen is encouraging Montanans donating to relief efforts in Ukraine to take precautions to ensure they support legitimate charities. It is very likely that scammers will set up fake operations to take advantage of those attempting to help the people of Ukraine during this time.
“Unfortunately, scammers are always ready to use the latest crisis to try and take advantage of Montanans’ good will. We have no reason to think the war in Ukraine will be any different,” Attorney General Knudsen said. “Keep the signs of scams in mind, always do your research before donating so that your money goes to the right place, and contact our Office of Consumer Protection if you suspect a scam.”
When conducting a charity scam, scammers will typically call or email stating they are seeking a donation for what may sound like a well-known charity or for a current event – like the war in Ukraine. Scammers will oftentimes put pressure on prospective donors to donate immediately and refuse to provide details on the charity and how the money will be spent. In some instances, scammers may try to confuse the consumer by thanking them for a pledge they don’t remember making. The most common forms of donations charity scammers will ask for are cash, courier, money wires, or cryptocurrency.
To avoid falling victim to a charity…
