Emergency Shelter Closure Fundraiser — SCAM ALERT

Why this is a scam: This operation runs targeted email campaigns and WhatsApp group messages, typically in the UK and Ireland, claiming to be raising emergency funds for a specific shelter that is about to be shut down. The shelter named is usually a real, legitimate organisation — but this fundraiser has no connection to it whatsoever.

Funds raised go to a personal PayPal account or a Revolut link. The named shelter has publicly stated they have no association with this fundraiser and have asked people not to donate to it. Action Fraud (the UK's national fraud reporting centre) has received multiple reports about this operation and has issued a public advisory.

Source: Action Fraud UK advisory (2024); DSPCA public statement (2024) disavowing association.