According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, there have been reports of charity scams related to the situation in Ukraine. These scams have been reported to be either by email or texts, as well as phone calls and across the internet.

"A scammer uses high-pressure tactics to get you to donate immediately. The charity may not exist, or the scammer may not actually be associated with it."

The centre on their website, listed tactics scammers will use and urged individuals to refuse high-pressure requests for donations and be mindful that registered charities don't accept cryptocurrency as a payment method.

"A legitimate charity or fundraiser will give you information about the charity's mission, how your donation will be used and proof that your contribution is tax deductible. Also be on the lookout for false and deceptive crowdfunding ads. We always recommend donating locally. If you would like to donate to a disaster relief campaign, we recommend you visit your local Red Cross."

Previously, Discover Airdrie spoke to Wes Lafortune, Media and Communications Specialist at the Better Business Bureau (BBB), who said that the Canada Revenue Agency issues a charitable number to every registered charity and that it is publicly available. 

“Most charities will also put that on their websites and present that to donors in their information,” he said. “Look for a track record; has the charity worked in Ukraine before? Do they have a track record on the ground? And if so, where's the money going to go to specifically.”