Don’t Fund Criminals this Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday is one of the most inspiring days of the year. Born out of the chaos of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it’s a moment to turn away from consumerism and focus on giving our time, money, and hearts to causes that matter. It’s a beautiful concept: a global movement that reminds us of the power of collective generosity—raising an estimated $3.1 billion for US charities between 2022 and 2023, by some accounts, which is why watching for Giving Tuesday scams is critical.

As you consider how to give this year, let’s pause for a moment. Because as much as Giving Tuesday is about hope, the reality is more complicated. It’s not just a day for generosity but also when scammers lurk in the shadows, preying on our kindness and altruism.

With the recent US election, the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, and the horrible situation in the Middle East, not to mention Darfur, emotions are running high. The combination of smartphones and social media has trained our brains to seek out dopamine constantly. This means we’re digesting a steady stream of images designed to provoke emotional reactions and fuel outrage, and the line between real and fake has never been blurrier. 

In this environment, it feels critical to give. This Giving Tuesday, I do want you to give—but I want you to give smarter and avoid Giving Tuesday scams.

Social Media and the Emotional Pull of Giving

Let’s talk about your social media feed.

Chances are, it’s a wild mix of adorable pet videos, FOMO-inducing images from your friends and family, heated political debates, and images of global crises that make your heart ache. Social media is a powerful tool—it connects us to causes we might never have known otherwise. But it’s also where nuance gets easily lost, and emotions take over.

Studies show that over half of adults in many countries rely on social media as their primary news source. It’s where we learn about war-torn families needing aid or communities rebuilding after disasters. It’s also where we’re most vulnerable to emotional contagion—how someone else’s anger, despair, or urgency can instantly become our own.

This emotional pull isn’t inherently bad; it makes us human. But it also makes us susceptible to manipulation. That heartbreaking photo of a displaced child requesting donations for help? It could be real or an AI-generated image crafted to pull your heartstrings and get you to reach for your credit card without a second thought.

The Rise of Scams and the Dangers of Giving in the Moment

We’ve all seen crowdfunding campaigns: urgent pleas for help accompanied by personal stories that are almost impossible to ignore. Many of them are legitimate. However, some aren’t.

Here’s the hard truth: not everyone asking for your help is who they claim to be. Crowdfunding platforms are powerful tools for good, but they’re not as regulated as registered charities. That means it’s too easy for bad actors to set up fake campaigns. In the age of generative AI, where a convincing photo or video can be created in seconds, it’s harder than ever to tell the difference between a well-meaning cause and a Giving Tuesday scam.

Using a combination of GenAI and a convincing story, criminals or terrorist organizations can exploit our human need to impact the world positively. If you’re not careful, the money you intend to aid someone in crisis may instead go to lining a scammer’s pockets, helping an organized criminal organization, or assisting a terrorist network.

Please note that I don’t say this to make you suspicious of everyone in your social feed or to discourage you from giving—quite the opposite. 

I say it because your generosity is too important to waste. Your donations should go to those who deserve it this holiday season, not convincing Giving Tuesday scams.

Guarding Your Generosity

On Giving Tuesday, you want your donation to make a difference. So, how do you ensure that it does?

First, take a breath. The emotions you feel while scrolling—heartbreak, anger, urgency—are real, but they can cloud your judgment. Pause before you give. If a campaign or story moves you, that’s good. But let it move you to research, not to an immediate click.

Second, do your homework. Look up the organization or individual. Are they a registered charity? Do they have a history of legitimate work? Use resources like the Better Business Bureau or Scam Advisor to verify websites. And if it’s a crowdfunding campaign, be extra cautious. Remember, these platforms fall outside the bounds of non-profit regulation, making them open to legitimate use and criminal abuse.

Third, remember that not all giving has to be financial. Volunteering your time, sharing resources, or even spreading awareness can be just as impactful, sometimes more so.

The Role of Technology in Stopping Giving Tuesday Scams

The rise of charity scams doesn’t just hurt donors; it also hurts the real causes that desperately need our support. That’s why financial institutions and crowdfunding platforms are turning to advanced AI to fight fraud and prevent terrorism financing.

Banks, for instance, are using AI to analyze patterns and flag suspicious transactions. But during high-emotion events—like a war breaking out or an election season—everything looks abnormal. AI needs to be trained on data from similar events to distinguish between genuine spikes in donations and fraudulent activity.

Platforms can also use AI to analyze images and detect whether they’ve been artificially generated, manipulated, or re-purposed from unrelated events, as in a “cheapfake” where media is altered using less technologically advanced methods like Photoshop or other editing programs. Manipulated images often come from conflicts or natural disasters that are, in reality, miles from an affected region or that occurred years earlier.  Whether using GenAI or cheapfakes, detection technology is critical in an age where fake photos or videos can go viral in minutes.

While bad actors frequently use AI,  it is also essential in combating financial crime and scams. At times, this can feel like an endless game of whack-a-mole, but it’s necessary to prevent abuse of the financial system and the good intentions of kind-hearted donors. 

A Better Way to Give

Giving Tuesday is about more than just money—it’s about hope. It’s about believing that our collective actions can make the world a better place. But hope works best when paired with critical thinking.

This year, I urge you to embrace what we’ve started calling a “Pause Before You Pay” mindset. Don’t let emotional appeals—no matter how compelling—rush you into a decision. Take the time to ensure your generosity is going to the right place.

Because here’s the thing: your kindness matters. It has the power to change lives. But it can only do that if it’s channeled wisely.

• Blog: Top Sanctions Screening Challenges & How to Combat Them
• Resource: Global State of Scams Report 2024
• Solution Guide: Inbound Payment Fraud Detection and Mule Risk Modelling
• Solution: Scam Prevention