NDR uncovered a family in Gaza running multiple fake charities on Chuffed.org. Same footage, different names. $2 million crypto fraud. Read the full investigation.
The Fake Family Network on Chuffed.org: How a Coordinated Fraud Ring Stole Millions from Gaza Donors
Introduction: The Coordinated Fraud Network
NDR’s investigation uncovered a sophisticated criminal network: a family in Gaza running multiple fake charities on platforms like Chuffed.org and GoFundMe.
Direct Attack: This is not a small-scale scam. This is a COORDINATED FRAUD NETWORK that has stolen millions.
The Deception Exposed
The Evidence:
- Ahmad Kaled A. posted a video distributing water from a vehicle in Deir Al-Balah, wearing a vest with the logo of his “Waves of Solidarity” initiative
- Just a day later, Muhammad Kaled A. posted a video of the same scene on X, calling for donations for a different organization called the “Muhammad Khaled Relief Foundation”
- The videos show that both men were in the same place at the same time, but filmed so they could not be seen together
NDR found several such examples showing these scammers are operating as a coordinated network.
The Fake Profiles Network
The trail of fake profiles led to a group of alleged fraudsters located in Gaza itself. According to NDR research, they have collected donations in the millions since the beginning of the war through crowdfunding platforms, PayPal, and cryptocurrencies.
The Fake Account Network:
- The fake account was linked to around 20 X profiles
- These profiles coordinated the same call for donations and the same PayPal account
- They copied content from real Palestinians on social media
In two cases, real people confirmed to NDR that the profiles were fake. X did not respond to a journalist’s inquiry but blocked the accounts.
Ahmed Al-Ghalban: A Real Victim
Ahmed Al-Ghalban is a 17-year-old Gazan who lost both his legs and several fingers in the war. His real Instagram account has over 300,000 followers.
What Scammers Did:
They stole Ahmed’s photos and videos to create fake profiles using his images. All profiles directed donations to the same PayPal account.
Ahmed’s Real Message:
“Thank you for your donations and for being with me these past months”
But where did the donations go? Into the scammers’ pockets.
Bitcoin for Palestine: $2 Million Crypto Fraud
This same group is linked to “Bitcoin for Palestine,” a crypto initiative founded before the war in 2023.
The Allegations:
- An Egyptian bitcoin entrepreneur claims he invested $2 million
- The operator, Yousef Mahmoud A. , allegedly used the money to buy cars and weapons
- The operator admitted to keeping 10% of the donations for his own expenses—including a new car and a gun for protection
NDR has numerous pieces of evidence and insider testimony indicating that donations in the millions were collected for “Bitcoin for Palestine” alone. Additional appeals by family members brought in an extra half a million dollars.
The Scale of Fraud on Chuffed.org
According to members of Salam Gaza, a Gazan diaspora association, 25% to 30% of all donation campaigns for Gazans on platforms like Chuffed.org are fraudulent.
Direct Attack: 25-30% of campaigns on Chuffed.org are FRAUD. The platform profits from every single one.
Mossos d’Esquadra Warning
The Catalan police Mossos d’Esquadra have issued a warning about the alarming increase in social media scams using the Gaza conflict.
Police Recommendations:
- Verify the origin of the campaign before donating
- Check that the fundraising is linked to a recognized NGO
- Verify that the website has an official and secure domain (https://)
- Be suspicious of any economic request from personal accounts or private messages
ScamAdviser Rating
According to ScamAdviser, chuffed.org has been flagged as a scam website. Negative highlights include hiding the website owner’s identity and consumer complaints about fraudulent campaigns not being shut down.
Consumer Complaint:
“Reported a fraudulent campaign to Chuff. Someone is using Instagram to poise as someone else. Told Chuffed. They said they would shut down the campaign, but have not. It all feels sketchy and the whole website feels like a scam.”
How to Spot a Fake Campaign
| Red Flag | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Stolen images | Reverse-search using Google Images or TinEye |
| Same footage, different names | Check if the same video appears in multiple campaigns |
| New organizer account | Check their social media history |
| No video updates | Real campaigns provide real-time video proof |
Conclusion
Chuffed.org is being used by a coordinated fraud network. A family in Gaza runs multiple fake charities. $2 million was stolen in crypto fraud. 25-30% of campaigns are fraudulent.
Don’t let your compassion be weaponized. Verify before you donate.
chuffed.org and globalsumudflotilla.org are SCAM websites. They must be shut down.
