Charity & Romance Fraud After Global Crises — How to Identify & Stay Safe

INDIA — By BharatSecure Threat Intelligence Team · Updated May 27, 2026

Severity: HIGH | View Full Scam Details

Charity & Romance Fraud After Global Crises in India 2026: Beware of UPI Scams on WhatsApp

Millions of Indians are falling prey to charity and romance scams that exploit emotions after major disasters, with fraudsters using UPI and WhatsApp to steal money fast.

What Is the Charity & Romance Fraud After Global Crises?

In 2026, India has seen a sharp rise in what experts call Charity & Romance Fraud, especially following global crises such as natural disasters, pandemics, or conflicts. Scammers create fake social media profiles on platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, posing as charitable workers or distressed individuals seeking urgent financial help. These fake personas often use stolen photos and fabricated stories that pull at the victim's heartstrings.

The scam targets emotionally vulnerable people — often those who have a history of donating to charities or looking for companionship online. After crises abroad or in India, scammers exploit the heightened empathy of users who want to help. The crime is widespread, with several complaints registered across Indian states, particularly in metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore. The Indian government’s Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and CERT-In have issued warnings about such emotionally-driven scams that use UPI for rapid money transfers, making it difficult to trace and recover funds.

How This Scam Works — Step by Step

1. Initial Contact Through Social Media: The fraudster sends a friend request or message on WhatsApp or Instagram, often introducing themselves as a charity volunteer or a person in distress due to recent crises like floods or international conflicts.

2. Building Trust With Emotional Stories: They share fake photos and heart-wrenching stories — for instance, a family affected by a disaster or a widow needing medical help. Sometimes, they pretend to be a romantic interest who met the victim online.

3. Gradual Engagement: Over days or weeks, the scammer deepens trust, chatting regularly, sometimes sending fake documents or videos for authenticity.

4. Request for Immediate Financial Help: The fraudster then asks for money to be sent via UPI apps such as Google Pay, Paytm, or PhonePe for “urgent” medical treatment, shelter, or aid shipments.

5. Pressure and Urgency: They create urgency, discouraging the victim from verifying details or asking for delays, emphasizing that time is running out.

6. Money Transfer and Disappearance: Once money is sent via UPI — which uses real-time payments linked to bank accounts — the fraudster usually blocks or deletes the contact, making the victim unable to retrieve the funds.

7. Potential Follow-up with More Requests: Some scammers may ask repeatedly for more money or use multiple fake profiles to extract more.

Real Warning Signs to Watch For

• The person contacts you out of the blue with a heartbreaking story immediately after a crisis.
• They ask exclusively for money via UPI apps, refusing other modes of payment.
• Profiles have very few friends/followers and old or stolen photos.
• Pressure tactics like “send the money quickly or the help won’t arrive.”
• Refusal to provide verifiable details like official charity registration or ID.
• Requests come via WhatsApp or social media with poor-quality photos or inconsistent stories.
• After sending money, the contact disappears or blocks you.

What Happens to Victims

Victims often lose substantial amounts of money, ranging from a few thousand to lakhs of rupees, through quick UPI transfers that cannot be reversed by banks. In many cases, victims report that the fraudsters use their Aadhaar-linked data and SIM swap tactics to impersonate bank officials or send fake OTPs, leading to further unauthorized transactions.

Emotionally, victims suffer deep embarrassment and trauma, especially because these scams prey on their kindness or romantic feelings. Many hesitate to report the crime due to stigma, which delays recovery or legal action. Additionally, the fast nature of UPI payments means once the money is gone, getting refunds is extremely difficult without prompt reporting.

What RBI and CERT-In Say

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has continually warned users about the risks of sharing personal banking and UPI details with unknown contacts. RBI's 2026 advisory emphasizes never to share OTPs or banking PINs with anyone on WhatsApp or social media. CERT-In has also issued alerts urging users to verify the identity of people requesting funds related to crisis support and not to fall for emotional manipulation.

For assistance, victims can call the RBI helpline at 1800-265-8918 and CERT-In’s 1930 cybercrime helpline to report fraud attempts. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) works with state police to track and prosecute these scams.

How to Protect Yourself

1. Verify the Identity: Before sending money, confirm the person’s identity through trusted sources or official charity websites.
2. Never Share OTPs or PINs: No genuine agency or person will ask for your banking OTP or PIN.
3. Avoid Sending Money to Unknown Contacts: Do not transfer funds blindly, even if the story sounds convincing.
4. Check UPI Transaction Details: Always cross-verify the UPI ID or bank account name before confirming payment.
5. Use Official Donation Platforms: Donate only through verified charity apps or websites recommended by the government or trusted NGOs.
6. Be Skeptical of Urgent Requests: Pressure tactics are classic scam signals; take your time to verify.
7. Enable UPI Transaction Limits: Set daily transaction caps on your UPI app for added safety.

What to Do If You've Been Targeted

1. Stop Any Further Payments: Immediately cease all transactions to the suspicious contact.
2. Contact Your Bank: Inform your bank about the unauthorized transactions and request for immediate blocking of your UPI or bank accounts if necessary.
3. File a Complaint: Report the scam at cybercrime.gov.in and lodge an FIR with your local police station.
4. Call the 1930 Cybercrime Helpline: Get support and guidance on next steps.
5. Keep All Evidence: Save chat transcripts, payment receipts, and any related documents for investigation.
6. Inform the RBI Helpline: Report your case at 1800-265-8918 to alert the banking authorities and seek help.
7. Monitor Your Accounts: Regularly check your bank and UPI transaction history for suspicious activity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can I get my money back if sent through UPI to a scammer?
Refunds on UPI transactions are difficult once they are completed because payments are instant and irrevocable. The best chance is to report immediately to your bank and cybercrime authorities for investigation.

Q2: How do scammers get my details for these scams?
Scammers gather information from stolen data leaks, social media profiles, and by using SIM swap fraud to intercept personal information like OTPs.

Q3: Is it safe to donate to charity on social media platforms?
Only donate through official charity websites or government-recognized NGOs. Avoid sending money to individual accounts or unverified profiles on WhatsApp or Instagram.

If you get emotional messages requesting money, no matter how genuine they seem, pause and verify before you send cash. Always check suspicious messages on BharatSecure.app — India's trusted platform to help you spot digital fraud and protect your money in 2026 and beyond.