Criminals keep their eyes on the news and will use any event as an opportunity to make money. They'll use everything from natural disaters to war, like the Turkey/Syria earthquake and the current situation in Ukraine. These are used to trick people into giving money to fake accounts, set up to only benefit the fraudsters.
How to protect yourself
Only donate to genuine charities. You can check the charity name and registration number on the government's charity register.
If you're giving to a fundraiser in person, make sure you check their credentials and don't be afraid to ask for more information. If you're giving online, don't click on links in emails; instead type in the charity website address yourself and look for the registered chairty number on the website. Ignore requests to donate through a money transfer company, as this is a popular scam.
What to do
Don't hand over money, bank details or personal infortmation to any company you're not 100% sure about. You can also report fake government messages to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or at actionfraud.police.uk.