Beware of scams implying association with House of Mercy Children’s Home, Lagos, Nigeria (HOM). Requests for donations allegedly made on behalf of HOM, to be sent to an individual through a money transfer service such as Western Union or MoneyGram, or to a PayPal account are fraudulent and should be disregarded.

With so much need in the world, scam artists have no trouble finding a worthwhile charity to impersonate, exploiting people’s good will and willingness to help.

Scammers pose as either agents of legitimate well-known charities or create their own bogus charities and use names that are very close to the names of legitimate and respected charities. Scammers may also set up fake websites which look similar to those operated by real charities. It is also a standard tactic among online fraudsters to send emails to random people, purporting to be from a legitimate charity. These scams are particularly vicious as they not only cost you money but they also divert donations away from legitimate charities and causes.

Charity scams can occur all year round but they are often created directly in response to humanitarian crises or disasters such as floods, cyclones and earthquakes.

Be cautious of high pressure or threatening solicitors who want you to contribute immediately. Even in times of emergency, reputable organisations do not expect you to contribute immediately if you are unfamiliar with their services. Be wary of appeals that are long on emotion but short on details about how the charity will help those in need.

Some scammers may call you or send you spam emails requesting donations. Beware of fake emails, websites, text messages and phone numbers. Before you decide whether a charity deserves your donation, gather as much information as possible to make sure the charity is not a scam and that your donation reaches someone in need and does not end up lining the pockets of criminals and opportunists.

Examples of charity scams can be found on our Disclaimer page. A Scam Alert video can also be viewed on our YouTube channel.

Given today’s economic climate, charitable organisations are already struggling to secure funding for their missions through donations. Fraudulent solicitors not only take money away from legitimate organisations, but they also undermine the public’s confidence in legitimate charitable fundraising. Fortunately, through some simple research and good common sense, donors can prevent much of this fraud and ensure that donated funds go to support worthy causes rather than unscrupulous individuals.

Scam reporting is vital to catching fraudsters.

• If you receive a Google voice call requesting for donations etc on behalf of House of Mercy Children’s Home, Lagos, Nigeria (HOM) through a money transfer company such as Western Union or MoneyGram, kindly notify us by email at [email protected]

• If you receive a facsimile, text message, e-mail, regular mail or a message on any social media site from someone claiming to be a representative of House of Mercy Children’s Home, Lagos, Nigeria (HOM) requesting for donations, grants or a partnership on behalf of HOM, kindly notify us by email at [email protected]

• If you receive a visit from someone claiming to be a representative of HOM with fake documents with the official logo of HOM or photos obtained from our website – www.homchildrenshome.org – or our social media sites seeking to do “business” on behalf of HOM, kindly notify us by email at [email protected]

• If you receive a facsimile, text message, e-mail or regular mail from someone claiming to be a representative of HOM inviting you to a fake international conference on children’s issues, kindly notify us by email at [email protected]

If you have doubts about the identity of any individual who claims to represent a business, organisation or government department, contact the organisation directly. Do not rely on contact details provided by the person – find them through an independent source such as an online search.

If you need to contact a law enforcement agency, you may contact the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The EFCC is the Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as advance fee fraud (419 frauds) and money laundering.

At House of Mercy Children’s Home, Lagos, Nigeria (HOM), we have zero tolerance for fraud and we are constantly vigilant to prevent it. Integrity is our watchword!

Thank you for helping us in the fight against fraud!