Direct Answer
Before you give to any charity in Singapore, stop and check www.charities.gov.sg. It's the official Charity Portal run by the Commissioner of Charities. The site tells you instantly if an organisation is registered, has current IPC status, and holds a valid fundraising permit. If you don't find it there, your money might be going to a scammer.
A S$106,000 Lesson in Fake Charity
In November 2025, Lim Kah Kheng, 42, was jailed for 46 months after swindling over S$106,000 from 12,600 people. From January 2020 to June 2024, he tricked donors into thinking they supported real charities. His tactic was straightforward: he altered documents from a genuine group called "A Nation Of Love" and passed them off as proof of legitimate fundraising.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) built the case. After his guilty verdict, the Commissioner of Charities banned him from all fundraising activities indefinitely — effective 9 December 2025. The COC called him "not a fit and proper person" for charitable work, their toughest sanction.
This wasn't a small trick. Over 12,600 people fell for it, most giving small sums. The scam worked through volume, not big individual donations. Remember: scams often hide behind kindness.
How Donation Scams Work in 2026
The Lim Kah Kheng case grabbed headlines. But donation fraud wears many faces in Singapore — and the Commissioner of Charities monitors them all.
Fake charity websites and emails. Scammers clone real charities' names, logos, and registration numbers. They build copycat sites or send emails mimicking groups like the Singapore Heart Foundation or National Kidney Foundation. You think you're helping a real cause. Your money lands in a personal account.
Street-level collections. Fundraisers approach you at MRT stations, malls, or your doorstep with tins or QR codes. They flash laminated beneficiary photos and what look like official permits. Some show real Collector's Certificates of Authority. Others use entirely fake paperwork.
Disaster profiteering. After natural disasters, conflicts, or tragedies, fake fundraising appeals pop up within hours. Scammers rush in while emotions run high. They count on you skipping checks when you're moved to help.
Crypto and crowdfunding fronts. Some create bogus campaigns on Giving.sg or GoFundMe, posing as unregistered "charities." Others push cryptocurrency donations — hard to trace, impossible to claw back.
SPF's 2025 Annual Scam and Cybercrime Brief shows 37,308 scam cases in Singapore — down 27.6% from 51,501 in 2024. Total losses dropped to about S$913.1 million, a 17.9% fall. Despite the overall decline, the Anti-Scam Command warns donation scams remain a steady threat, especially during holidays and after global crises.
What the Charity Portal Actually Shows You
The Charity Portal at www.charities.gov.sg — run by the Commissioner of Charities under MCCY — is Singapore's definitive source for charity checks.
Search an organisation there and you'll see:
- Registration status. Is it registered as a charity under the Charities Act?
- IPC status and expiry. Does it have current Institution of a Public Character approval? Past IPC status doesn't count — only current approval gives tax-deductible donations.
- Annual filings and accounts. Registered charities must submit yearly reports and audited statements. The portal flags overdue submissions as a warning.
- Fundraising permit validity. Running a public appeal? The portal confirms if the permit is current.
- Leadership details. It lists the charity's board members. If a collector can't name them or match portal details, be wary.
How to Verify Before You Donate: A Step-by-Step Checklist
The Commissioner of Charities' "Safer Giving" approach has three steps: Better Ask, Better Check, Give Better. Here's how to use them.
Better Ask: Question the Fundraiser
- Who's the beneficiary? A real fundraiser names the exact cause — not vague phrases like "helping the needy" or "supporting underprivileged children."
- How will my donation be used? Beware of woolly answers like "operational costs" or "administrative expenses" without detail.
- How will I see impact? Genuine charities track and share outcomes. Scammers don't bother.
- Can I see your Collector's Certificate? Anyone collecting publicly for a charity must show this NCSS-issued certificate or a police permit.
Better Check: Use the Official Tools
- Search the Charity Portal. Go to www.charities.gov.sg, enter the organisation name. Confirm registration, check IPC status dates, review compliance history.
- SMS verification. Text "FR [Organisation Name]" to 79777 to validate the fundraising permit. Have a licence number? Text "FR [number]" instead.
- Scan the QR code. Real Collector's Certificates carry a QR code. Scan it with your phone — it should link to a verification page on NCSS or charities.gov.sg.
- Check the website independently. Find the official URL on the Charity Portal, then type it directly into your browser. Never click links in unexpected emails or WhatsApp messages.
- Call the Charities Unit. Still unsure? Ring the Charities Unit at 6337-6597 during office hours for confirmation.
Give Better: Donate Safely
- Give via the charity's official website — the one you verified on the portal. Never send money to a personal bank account.
- Never share credit card details, Singpass credentials, or OTPs with self-proclaimed charity reps.
- When in doubt, hold off. Legitimate charities welcome verification; scammers rush you.
- Fundraising for overseas causes? Foreign appeals in Singapore need a COC permit. Check the portal for approved foreign fundraising permits.
IPC Status and Tax Deductions: What You Need to Know
The Commissioner of Charities grants Institution of a Public Character status to select registered charities. Donate to an approved IPC and you get a 250% tax deduction on your gift — a major draw for scammers faking IPC credentials.
Not all registered charities qualify as IPCs. Some never meet the criteria. Others lose IPC status through revocation or lapse. The Charity Portal shows each charity's exact IPC validity period. Claiming tax-deductible status? Check those dates on the portal before you give.
The IPC Unit at MCCY maintains the approved IPC list on the Charity Portal. It updates when new IPCs gain approval or existing ones expire. Told you just got IPC status but don't see it on the list? Wait — or request their IPC approval reference and verify it with the Charities Unit.
What to Do If You Have Been Scammed
Suspect you've donated to a fake charity or fundraiser? Act fast:
- Call ScamShield at 1799 now. This 24/7 helpline gives banks the best shot at freezing the receiving account. Move quickly — after 24 hours, recovery gets much harder.
- File a police report. Do it online at police.gov.sg for non-urgent cases, or dial 999 if the scam is active. Keep every screenshot, receipt, contact detail, and document or permit they showed you.
- Alert the Commissioner of Charities. Email [email protected] with full details of the suspicious fundraising. The COC investigates and can issue bans — as they did for Lim Kah Kheng.
- Contact your bank. If you paid by credit card or bank transfer, tell your bank immediately. They may be able to reverse the charge or trace the recipient account.
- Install ScamShield. The app (iOS and Android) blocks scam calls and messages before they reach you.
SPF data from 2025 shows the Anti-Scam Command recovered about S$140.5 million in scam losses and stopped at least S$348 million more through early intervention. Reporting works. But speed matters.
The Bigger Picture: Singapore's Regulatory Framework
The Commissioner of Charities derives authority from the Charities Act and wields broad supervisory powers — suspending or removing trustees, winding up charities, and issuing prohibition orders. The Lim Kah Kheng ban in December 2025 was the most public use of this power, but the COC handles compliance cases routinely.
The Charities (Institutions of a Public Character) Regulations define the IPC approval criteria. Charities must prove community benefit and meet governance standards. IPC status is time-limited, not permanent — it must be renewed.
For businesses exploring charitable partnerships or corporate giving, the message is straightforward: verify first, give second. The Charity Portal was built to make that verification take less than a minute.
Common Mistakes When Evaluating a Charity
Donating on emotion alone. A heartbreaking story, a photo of a sick child, disaster footage — none of it proves legitimacy. Scammers exploit empathy. Pause. Then check.
Trusting forwarded recommendations. A WhatsApp forward from a friend about a charity isn't due diligence. Your friend might have been scammed too. Go to the source — the Charity Portal.
Assuming a .org.sg domain is proof. Domain names alone mean nothing. Scammers register lookalike domains. Always cross-check against the official portal.
Overlooking the IPC expiry date. A charity claims tax-deductible status, but its IPC lapsed six months ago. Without current IPC status, there's no tax deduction. Check the dates.
Paying into personal accounts. Real charities never ask you to transfer money to an individual's bank or PayNow. If the payment goes to a person rather than a registered entity, stop.
Conclusion
Donation scams in Singapore are persistent but avoidable. The Charity Portal at www.charities.gov.sg is your sharpest tool: a search takes under a minute and reveals everything that counts — registration, IPC status, compliance history, and fundraising permits. Before you give to any cause, run that search. Before you donate online, verify the URL. Before you hand cash to a street collector, scan the QR code.
The Lim Kah Kheng case showed that even elaborate scams depend on one assumption: that people won't check. Prove them wrong. Verify first.
If you suspect fraudulent fundraising, contact the Commissioner of Charities at [email protected] or call the ScamShield Helpline at 1799 (24/7). For urgent cases, call 999.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a charity is registered in Singapore?
Search the organisation's name on www.charities.gov.sg. The portal lists every registered charity under the Charities Act — including registration number, governing board, compliance status, and IPC status with validity dates. No result means it's not a registered charity in Singapore.
What is IPC status and why does it matter?
Institution of a Public Character status is granted by the Commissioner of Charities to approved charities. Donations to IPCs qualify for a 250% tax deduction. Not all registered charities hold IPC status, and it comes with an expiry date. Always verify current IPC status on the Charity Portal — tax deductions only apply during the validity period.
Can I donate to overseas charities from Singapore?
Yes, but carefully. Any fundraising appeal run in Singapore for foreign charitable purposes needs a permit from the Commissioner of Charities. Check the Charity Portal to confirm the foreign fundraising permit is valid. For direct donations to overseas groups, verify their registration with their home country's regulator. The COC has no authority over foreign charities directly.
What should I do if I see someone collecting donations without a permit?
Anyone soliciting donations in public for a charity must display a Collector's Certificate of Authority from NCSS or hold a police permit. No valid documentation? Don't donate. Report it to the COC at [email protected] or call the ScamShield Helpline at 1799. If the person is aggressive or refuses to leave, call 999.
Is the SMS verification service on 79777 free?
SMS to 79777 is charged at your mobile carrier's standard local rate. The reply confirms whether the organisation holds a valid fundraising permit. Use the format "FR [Organisation Name]" or "FR [licence number]." It's a quick second check alongside the Charity Portal.
How quickly must I report a suspected donation scam?
Immediately — ideally within 24 hours of donating. The faster you call ScamShield at 1799 and alert your bank, the better the chance of freezing the receiving account. SPF data confirms early reporting dramatically improves recovery odds. Don't wait to find out if the charity was real — if something feels off, report it.