Online Scammers Exploit 'All Eyes on Rafah' Campaign To Dupe Donors
In the wake of the viral ‘All Eyes On Rafah’ campaign on social media, Scammers are seizing the opportunity to defraud individuals wishing to aid victims of the conflict in Gaza. According to reports from cybersecurity experts, there has been a significant increase in fraudulent posts and accounts related to Gaza aid. Email security providers have noted a surge in phishing attempts, and consumer protection agencies are receiving a growing number of complaints about fake charities.
Experts warn that many donors, in their eagerness to help, are unwittingly directing their money not to Gaza, but potentially to places like Ghaziabad or other unintended destinations. Kanishk Gaur, chief executive of digital risk management firm Athenian Tech, highlighted that the emotional and urgent nature of the situation in Gaza makes it a prime target for scammers. “The urgency and emotional appeal of the situation in Gaza make it a prime target for scammers looking to exploit people’s goodwill,” Gaur stated. “Fraudulent links on social media platforms, especially Telegram, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter, have been growing.”
One 28-year-old software professional from Bengaluru, who wishes to remain anonymous, recounted his experience of being scammed. Deeply moved by images of the conflict, he donated Rs 10,000 through a UPI transfer to what appeared to be a legitimate charity. However, he later discovered the link was a fraud, and his money had gone to a scammer. “What should have set off alarm bells in my head was when it (the UPI app) said it was going to some Umesh Yadav,” he said. “But I was too emotional to think objectively, and by the time this dawned on me, it was too late.”
The most prevalent scams related to Gaza include fake websites, cryptocurrency links, phishing emails, fake video links, and social media scams. These fraudulent activities often involve setting up websites that mimic legitimate aid organisations, sending phishing emails that appear to be from reputable charities, and circulating fake video links leading to malicious sites.
According to reports, social media monitoring tools have tracked a 40% increase in scam-related content since the ‘All Eyes on Rafah’ movement gained momentum. Additionally, there has been a 60% increase in phishing emails purporting to be from legitimate aid organisations. Organisations like the Better Business Bureau have noted a 35% rise in fake charity complaints within the last three months. Companies such as Proofpoint have recorded thousands of phishing attempts daily, with a noticeable concentration on Gaza aid themes. Financial institutions in the EU and UK have also flagged numerous suspicious transactions tied to supposed Gaza aid campaigns, with some banks reporting a 50% increase in flagged transactions recently.
Gaur further explained that scammers are leveraging the heightened visibility created by movements like ‘All Eyes on Rafah’ to create fake accounts and campaigns that mimic legitimate efforts, making it difficult for individuals to distinguish between genuine and fraudulent ones. “They also promote fake cryptocurrency links, convincing people to donate through digital currencies to avoid detection. They often use urgent and emotional language to compel immediate donations,” he said.
(With inputs from Economics Times)
