How to recognize scams like "Fake Save the Children Bitcoin Fund"

What is "Fake Save the Children Bitcoin Fund" scam?

We have reviewed the email and concluded that it is disguised as an invitation from the Save the Children non-profit organization to contribute to humanitarian funding. The scammers behind this fraudulent email seek to trick unsuspecting recipients into transferring cryptocurrency to them. This email is not from the Save the Children organization and should be ignored.

More about the "Fake Save the Children Bitcoin Fund" scam email

This scam email is presented as an official message from Save the Children about its legitimate Bitcoin fund. It includes statements saying that cryptocurrency offers a faster, more transparent way to deliver life-saving aid, especially in regions where traditional banking systems are limited.

The message also mentions that digital assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT can be transferred across borders instantly, helping food, medical care, education, and protection to reach children more quickly. It provides cryptocurrency wallet addresses and encourages recipients to contribute digital currency directly.

It says that every contribution, regardless of size, will make a meaningful difference. Overall, the purpose of this scam is to trick recipients into believing they will donate to the Save the Children organization, when in reality, they will send cryptocurrency to scammers.

It is important to note that cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible. Once crypto is sent, it cannot be canceled or recovered. In other words, victims of crypto scams often cannot recover their lost assets.

Conclusion

Fraudsters behind this scam exploit the name of a legitimate organization to trick recipients into "donating" to children. Any cryptocurrency sent is directed to the scammers and cannot be recovered. It is highly advisable to examine emails and verify their legitimacy before sending money, disclosing information, and opening files (or links).

Sometimes, falling for email scams can lead to computer infections. Some examples of fraudulent emails similar to the one described in our article are "Philanthropic Financial Gift Email Scam", "Federal Equity Trust Bank Compensation Email Scam", and "Santander Bank - Unclaimed Balance Email Scam".

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Malware is delivered through email in two main ways. Attackers send emails with infected files that look normal and safe. These can be Word or Excel documents, PDF files, ZIP or RAR files, or executables. Although they appear legitimate, they contain malware. When someone opens the file or takes additional actions, malware runs and infects the system.

Also, emails can include links instead of attachments. These links lead to fake or unsafe websites. Simply visiting the site may start a download, or the site may trick the user into downloading and installing harmful software.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Be careful while browsing - do not click suspicious ads, pop-ups, or unknown links on questionable websites, and never allow such pages to send you notifications. Regularly scan your device with a reliable security tool to detect and remove threats. Keep your operating system and all installed applications up to date.

Download software from official websites or trusted app stores. Avoid pirated programs, cracks, or unauthorized activation tools. Always treat unexpected or irrelevant emails and messages with caution, particularly if they contain attachments or links.

The appearance of the scam email (GIF):

Text presented in the "Fake Save the Children Bitcoin Fund" email letter:

Subject: You Can Be the Reason a Child Eats Today

Save the Children Launches Bitcoin Fund, Breaking Ground in Humanitarian Innovation

Dear Humanitarian ,

Millions of children around the world are facing hunger, displacement, and violence. For many, help arrives too late.

Today, cryptocurrency offers a faster, more transparent pathway to deliver life-saving assistance where it's needed most.

Through innovative blockchain-based humanitarian funding, digital assets can be mobilized rapidly to provide food, medical care, education, and protection to children and families in crisis—especially in regions where traditional banking infrastructure is limited or non-existent.

In emergencies, every second counts. Cryptocurrency enables aid to move across borders instantly, without the delays and intermediaries that can slow traditional financial systems.

Digital Contribution Options

If you are able to contribute, you may do so directly using any of the following cryptocurrency options:
Bitcoin (BTC) bc1qkpgmpg4pl6f3mhckjazfeccavry5z83lsz6dkt Open in Wallet
Ethereum (ERC20) 0x09c3b8ea15Ca2140a6c84914b785bc16B82b5b23 Open in Wallet
USDT (ERC20) 0x09c3b8ea15Ca2140a6c84914b785bc16B82b5b23 Open in Wallet
Your contribution transforms digital value into tangible impact: nutritious meals for hungry children, medical care for the injured, educational opportunities for displaced youth, and renewed hope for families who have lost everything.

Every contribution, regardless of size, makes a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable children worldwide.

Thank you for standing with children in their greatest hour of need.

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake Save the Children Bitcoin Fund email?
• Types of malicious emails.
• How to spot a malicious email?
• What to do if you fell for an email scam?

Types of malicious emails:

Phishing Emails

Most commonly, cybercriminals use deceptive emails to trick Internet users into giving away their sensitive private information, for example, login information for various online services, email accounts, or online banking information.

Such attacks are called phishing. In a phishing attack, cybercriminals usually send an email message with some popular service logo (for example, Microsoft, DHL, Amazon, Netflix), create urgency (wrong shipping address, expired password, etc.), and place a link which they hope their potential victims will click on.

After clicking the link presented in such email message, victims are redirected to a fake website that looks identical or extremely similar to the original one. Victims are then asked to enter their password, credit card details, or some other information that gets stolen by cybercriminals.

Emails with Malicious Attachments

Another popular attack vector is email spam with malicious attachments that infect users' computers with malware. Malicious attachments usually carry trojans that are capable of stealing passwords, banking information, and other sensitive information.

In such attacks, cybercriminals' main goal is to trick their potential victims into opening an infected email attachment. To achieve this goal, email messages usually talk about recently received invoices, faxes, or voice messages.

If a potential victim falls for the lure and opens the attachment, their computers get infected, and cybercriminals can collect a lot of sensitive information.

While it's a more complicated method to steal personal information (spam filters and antivirus programs usually detect such attempts), if successful, cybercriminals can get a much wider array of data and can collect information for a long period of time.

Sextortion Emails

This is a type of phishing. In this case, users receive an email claiming that a cybercriminal could access the webcam of the potential victim and has a video recording of one's masturbation.

To get rid of the video, victims are asked to pay a ransom (usually using Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency). Nevertheless, all of these claims are false - users who receive such emails should ignore and delete them.

How to spot a malicious email?

While cyber criminals try to make their lure emails look trustworthy, here are some things that you should look for when trying to spot a phishing email:

• Check the sender's ("from") email address: Hover your mouse over the "from" address and check if it's legitimate. For example, if you received an email from Microsoft, be sure to check if the email address is @microsoft.com and not something suspicious like @m1crosoft.com, @microsfot.com, @account-security-noreply.com, etc.
• Check for generic greetings: If the greeting in the email is "Dear user", "Dear @youremail.com", "Dear valued customer", this should raise suspiciousness. Most commonly, companies call you by your name. Lack of this information could signal a phishing attempt.
• Check the links in the email: Hover your mouse over the link presented in the email, if the link that appears seems suspicious, don't click it. For example, if you received an email from Microsoft and the link in the email shows that it will go to firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0... you shouldn't trust it. It's best not to click any links in the emails but to visit the company website that sent you the email in the first place.
• Don't blindly trust email attachments: Most commonly, legitimate companies will ask you to log in to their website and to view any documents there; if you received an email with an attachment, it's a good idea to scan it with an antivirus application. Infected email attachments are a common attack vector used by cybercriminals.

To minimise the risk of opening phishing and malicious emails we recommend using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows. 

Example of a spam email:

What to do if you fell for an email scam?

• If you clicked on a link in a phishing email and entered your password - be sure to change your password as soon as possible. Usually, cybercriminals collect stolen credentials and then sell them to other groups that use them for malicious purposes. If you change your password in a timely manner, there's a chance that criminals won't have enough time to do any damage.
• If you entered your credit card information - contact your bank as soon as possible and explain the situation. There's a good chance that you will need to cancel your compromised credit card and get a new one.
• If you see any signs of identity theft - you should immediately contact the Federal Trade Commission. This institution will collect information about your situation and create a personal recovery plan.
• If you opened a malicious attachment - your computer is probably infected, you should scan it with a reputable antivirus application. For this purpose, we recommend using  Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.
• Help other Internet users - report phishing emails to Anti-Phishing Working Group, FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, National Fraud Information Center and U.S. Department of Justice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why did I receive this email?

These scam emails are often sent to numerous recipients simultaneously. The email addresses are typically obtained from leaked databases, fraudulent login pages, and similar sources.

I have provided my personal information when tricked by this email, what should I do?

You should immediately change your passwords, enable two-factor authentication if possible, and monitor your accounts for suspicious activity. If financial information was shared, contact your bank and the appropriate authorities.

I have downloaded and opened a malicious file attached to an email, is my computer infected?

The risk depends on the file type and user actions. Executable files can cause damage immediately after opening, while documents and other files usually require the user to enable features or take other steps to trigger malware execution.

I have sent cryptocurrency to the address presented in such email, can I get my money back?

No, cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible. Once sent, the funds cannot be recovered.

I have read the email but did not open the attachment, is my computer infected?

Emails themselves are safe to open. Malware cannot be executed without opening malicious files or links in fraudulent emails.

Will Combo Cleaner remove malware infections that were present in email attachment?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can detect and remove most known malware. However, advanced malware often hides deep within the system, so performing a full system scan is essential.