How to donate without getting scammed

What to avoid

• Official "funds" of the Venezuelan state and government collection centers

  Distribution is centralized by an unelected chavista government, with no independent or audited mechanism and a risk of an information blackout. There is no way to audit where the money goes.

• Generic crowdfunding with no traceability

  GoFundMe, Facebook/Instagram, TikTok, or WhatsApp campaigns that use real photos of victims without permission and language of urgency. Today the most effective vehicle for fraud.

• Zelle, transfers, gift cards, or cash to individuals

  A supposed 'relative' or 'volunteer on the ground' who messages you asking for money in their own name is the classic scam pattern. A non-reversible payment = red flag.

• Crypto to unofficial wallets

  The FBI/FTC consensus is blunt: if they ask for cryptocurrency, wire, gift card, or cash, it is almost always fraud. The risk is heightened in Venezuela by the normalized use of crypto in the diaspora.

• Impersonated NGOs (clone domains)

  Domains and accounts that imitate Direct Relief, World Vision, MSF, Americares, or PAHO, with stolen logos and nearly identical URLs (.org swapped for .com, typos, odd subdomains).