Security experts have warned that scammers are taking advantage of the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria that have resulted in the deaths of over 35,000 people. The scammers asking for donations for quake victims are diverting funds into their PayPal accounts and cryptocurrency wallets instead of providing aid to those in need.

According to the Turkish Security Directorate, 46 websites were closed for engaging in “phishing scams” aimed at stealing donations, and 15 social media accounts were shut down to impersonate official organizations.

Social media platforms, including TikTok and Twitter, have been used to spread these scams. On Twitter, people share images and links to cryptocurrency wallets requesting donations. One account shared the same appeal eight times in 12 hours, with a picture of a firefighter holding a small child amid collapsed buildings.

Meanwhile, on TikTok Live, some accounts are posting photos of the devastation and looped footage while asking for donations under posts titled “Let’s help Turkey,” “Pray for Turkey,” and “Donate for earthquake victims.” 

TikTok said they are contributing to earthquake relief efforts and taking action against scams on their platform. 

It is important to exercise caution and verify the legitimacy of donation requests before contributing to any charitable cause.