The altruist warned that donation scams are increasing on social media, especially Facebook, where fake accounts use photos of orphanages, elderly care homes, social welfare groups, and disaster relief organisations to solicit donations. They urged donors and the public to remain cautious, IMNA reported.
Most scam donation accounts closely imitate original accounts, using the same phone numbers for money transfers, addresses, and photos of organisational activities, making it difficult to distinguish between fake and genuine accounts.
Since it’s hard to distinguish fake from genuine accounts, a Mawlamyine charity leader advises donors to contact the account owner directly to verify information before sending money.
“As mobile banking has become more common, we see more donors using KPay to make donations. This has also made it easier for scammers to cheat people in a more systematic way. To distinguish between fake and real accounts, donors should first examine the number of followers. Another important step is to call and confirm whether the orphanage or shelter is genuine. If possible, donors should make a video call before transferring any money,” he said.
The source added that scam donation posts often pressure people to send money directly to mobile banking accounts such as KPay, Wave Money, and TrueMoney, and stressed the importance of being wary of such requests.
A Mawlamyine resident said that although it is possible to file official complaints over money lost to fake donation posts, the process requires multiple steps and supporting documents, causing people to lose interest in reporting cases involving small amounts and creating opportunities for scammers.
“Sometimes, even to report a case to KPay, you first have to open a case at a police station and obtain recommendation letters and various documents. For amounts of around 100,000 or 200,000 kyats, most people do not want to go through the trouble. Many just accept it as their misfortune and choose not to report it, which allows scammers to take advantage of the situation,” said a Mawlamyine resident.
Similar fake donation posts also spread widely following the earthquake in Mandalay on March 28, 2025, and many people were reportedly scammed.
Digital activists urged the public to help reduce donation scams by reporting fake accounts on social media platforms and sharing warnings with others to raise awareness.
In addition to charity work, fake accounts are also copying and posting activities of resistance groups and revolutionary fighters to carry out fraudulent fundraising.
