Scam Alert: Fake Typhoon Victims Are Reportedly Asking for Cash Donations

There’s no shortage of people willing to help the victims of the most recent typhoons. Time and again, Filipinos have dug deep and offered assistance to those hardest hit by the natural disasters not just in the form of relief goods, but through their time by volunteering and, especially, through monetary donations. It’s concrete proof that generosity knows no bounds. 

But what happens when this generosity is abused and are taken advantage of by the truly heinous and heartless? 

As social media becomes inundated by countless relief and donation drives by well-meaning individuals, reports have surfaced of people pretending to be typhoon victims and asking for cash donations. Because of how easy it is to send money electronically through digital wallets like GCash or Paymaya, these bogus “victims” have found it easy to dupe people into sending them money instantly.

Social media users have been posting screenshots of their interactions with these scammers. After the person has sent money digitally, some scammers even send messages taunting the giver and mocking them for being so gullible.

#CagayanNeedsHelp
STOP USING THIS CAGAYAN NEEDS HELP TO SCAM PEOPLE!! THEY ARE NOW SUFFERING AND DYING FOR HELP! A LOT OF PEOPLE IS SCREAMING AND CRYING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF PAIN, SO STOP MAKING FUN OF THIS DISASTER!! BE WARE OF THIS SCAMMERS.
ctto pic.twitter.com/BmfOfJxw00

— TAKE A LOOK AT MY PINNED TWEET!!! (@akotosiceles) November 14, 2020

This Twitter user said she had a similar experience and posted screenshots of her conversation with a person asking for help. Later the user posted that the issue had already been “settled” and that she got her money back.

?? HELP ME TO RETWEET THIS ??
good afternoon po, i was the one who got scammed kaninang umaga. (you can see the pictures as proofs, yung time po ngayon yung nasa ss 15:55 military time po gamit ko) i am just asking everyone po na nagshare/nagpost to take it down (1/2) pic.twitter.com/HTmJEzhBoI

— shan (@yannashx) November 14, 2020

A Twitter user started a thread of alleged donation scams.

photo not mine but here's another one pic.twitter.com/UXQpJ8cRLI

— tomi || where's raine (tomi ?'s cy) (@centerheeseungg) November 14, 2020 

https://t.co/Axki5KLWrZ

— ???? ???? (@angelajeee) November 14, 2020

hello!! i'll add this one po!! https://t.co/awdg5XUZmo

— ????? (@_XUMINGHA0) November 14, 2020

While it’s tough to navigate the cesspool that social media can be sometimes, this user has practical advice for people who want to help those who genuinely need it:

Please don't entertain those asking for help via PM/DM, #CagayanNeedsHelp have a lot of legit donation drives & they are transparent & trustworthy. Stick to the official groups only, please, para iwas loko na lang.

— SAVE SIERRA MADRE #CagayanNeedsHelp (@vansdottirMD) November 14, 2020

If you want to help but don't know where or how, click here and here. And of course, there’s always the Philippine Red Cross.