Frauds and scams
Online fraud and scams are a growing problem for UNHCR, with bad actors seeking to use UNHCR’s branding for personal gain.
Fraudulent schemes may use email, mobile phone applications, social media or websites, which appear as various proposals from people purporting to be officials of UNHCR. The correspondence and other documents, email addresses and websites may be crafted to look like they originate with UNHCR. For example, they may contain official-looking UNHCR emblem, name, or some variation thereof. Email or website addresses may include the words “United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees” or some similar fictitious name purporting to provide support to refugees and others forced to flee.
Such fraud and scam schemes not only undermine UNHCR’s reputation and trust but can also put refugees and others forced to flee at financial risk. Where scams target forcibly displaced and stateless people themselves, this is a protection concern and should be addressed the field level by protection colleagues. While disinformation and misinformation are relevant as indicators for frauds and scams, frauds and scams should not be viewed as an information risk issue and addressing them is outside of the scope of this toolkit.
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Report a Fraudulent Site or Cyber Security Issue
UNHCR has the Report a Fraudulent Site or Cyber Security Issue site which allows external parties to report issues related to frauds and scams. As noted, UNHCR colleagues should report fraudulent activities through the GSD.
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UNDP, Anti-Scam Handbook
This Anti-Scam Handbook v1.0 culminates from the work of UNDP and its coalition of experts across diverse sectors at the global and national levels. It addresses the gaps in global understanding on digital scams in developing countries; provides a toolkit to support countries in driving more effective multi-stakeholder collaborative responses; and presents case evidence across Africa, Asia Pacific, and Latin America.