War scams: The criminals exploiting conflict in Ukraine
Scammers are using emotionally charged tricks in a bid to steal online donations.
Trending · BBC World Service
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Show Notes
When war broke out in Ukraine, President Zelensky’s plea for financial aid triggered a wave of donations from ordinary people around the world. But scammers also heard the call. They fired into action, spreading emotional appeals into every corner of the internet. On TikTok, unverified war footage is being exploited by fraudsters, pushing viewers to send emoji hearts that can be swapped for hard cash. And fake websites and emails circulated, complete with heartbreaking stories designed to shake money from unwitting members of the public who just want to help. We track down a real-life doctor whose identity was stolen by a fake charity touting for Bitcoin. The message claimed to be from a clinic in Ukraine – but we found the real doctor in Mexico. And we speak to Unicef, whose brand has been hijacked by scammers, to ask how people can make sure their donations go to the right place.
Reporter: Hannah Gelbart Special thanks to Cristina Criddle Photo credit: Getty Images