Scams targeting non-profits are creating roadblocks for local animal shelters
At Humane Animal Partners, we are incredibly grateful for the generous community that supports our mission to care for and rehome animals in need and keep families connected to their pets. Your donations—whether large or small—make a real impact on our ability to serve pets in need and Delaware families. We see those donations come in a variety of ways, and recently, Venmo has made a big impact on our giving, making it convenient for patrons to quickly support urgent needs or simply give on the fly when it fits their budget. Unfortunately, scammers are trying to take advantage of that goodwill and we need our community of supporters to be on the lookout!
We discovered recently that an individual is impersonating Humane Animal Partners on Venmo. Their handle: @hapde_ closely mimics our legitimate and verified Venmo handle: @hapde. Just one added underscore has made a world of difference over the last month and despite our best efforts to resolve this issue with Venmo, the account remains active.
How These Scams Work
Scammers create Venmo profiles that appear nearly identical to those of legitimate nonprofits (keep a close eye out for additional letters or characters in the handle). Because Venmo prioritizes personal accounts over charities in search results, the fraudulent profile likely appears first—even if you type in the exact handle! Unless users click the “Charities” tab and verify they are donating to a registered nonprofit, they may unknowingly send money to the wrong account.
These scammers will even send messages to users who have previously donated to the verified nonprofit asking for donations.
We’re not alone in this struggle. Impersonators are targeting animal shelters all across the country. Our neighbors at PAWS Philadelphia recently warned followers in a social media post of a similar situation targeting their shelter, with followers confirming in comments that the fraud account had messaged them asking for money.
Reporting These Scams
We’ve reported the impersonator account multiple times to Venmo and have been told it’s under investigation. Despite our best efforts, we’re still being affected by this issue. It’s incredibly frustrating, but please know protecting your generosity is important and we’re doing everything we can to get it removed.
If you’d like to help, you can report the fraudulent account directly through the Venmo app. Open the scam profile (@hapde_), tap the three dots in the upper right corner, and select “Report”, then choose “It’s pretending to be someone else” or “It’s a fake charity”. You can also email phishing@venmo.com with a description of the issue. Every report makes a difference, and your advocacy on our behalf is deeply appreciated.
How to Donate Safely on Venmo
To ensure your gift reaches Humane Animal Partners, please follow these steps:
- Open the Venmo app.
- Search for “hapde.”
- Before clicking the first result, select the “Charities” tab at the top of the search screen.
- Look for our verified charity account: @hapde. You’ll see the “Charity” label and our official logo, like this:
If you’re ever unsure, you can always find the direct link to our verified Venmo profile on our website or reach out to us for confirmation.
Of course you can always just donate through our website!
Why It Matters
Every dollar you give helps us provide food, shelter, medical care, and loving homes for animals in need. When donations are diverted to scammers, it doesn’t just hurt our bottom line, it means fewer resources for the pets we’re here to help. We have already lost potential contributions due to this scam, so if you have friends and family that support HAP, please make sure they’re aware.
We kindly ask that you double-check before you donate, and if you spot anything suspicious, let us know! If you’re ever not certain, don’t hesitate to reach out to any non-profit for donation assistance, we’re always happy to help you… After all, your generosity keeps our mission going strong, even in the face of challenges like this. Thank you for supporting Humane Animal Partners, and for helping ensure your donation goes where it’s truly needed.
