“How Big Are the Legal Risks of Posting Fake Charity Information During a Disaster?”

After a major disaster, all charity-related information enters a highly sensitive zone.
Posting “fake donation screenshots” or “false charity information” during this stage
is not just about “backlash”—it could cross the criminal line.

Here’s a summary of the legal risks in 3 sentences + 3 key points.

First sentence: Fake donations ≠ mere moral flaw; they may constitute “fraud.”
Hong Kong Theft Ordinance:
Using false means to obtain any benefit (including reputation, cooperation opportunities) → Maximum sentence of 14 years.

Key point:
It’s not only “cheating money” that counts as fraud;
cheating for reputation or recognition is also considered a benefit.

Second sentence: Fake information during disasters is considered “aggravated conduct.”
Because:
The public is vulnerable
Social resources are strained
Rescue efforts rely on trust
Fake charity can cause real losses

Therefore, spreading fake charity information in disaster situations
is usually met with zero tolerance by law enforcement.

Recently in Hong Kong, scammers have already been immediately arrested for fake charity websites.

Third sentence: Making a donation afterward ≠ automatic exemption.

Making a donation afterward may ease public opinion,
but it cannot erase:
Whether false information was posted at the time
Whether the public was misled
Whether reputation or commercial benefits were gained

The law focuses on whether the conduct was deceptive at the time it occurred, not on whether you later tried to make amends.

Three key judgment points (most practical):

If your conduct meets all three of the following, you’re in high legal risk territory:
1. During a disaster
2. Posting untrue charity/donation information
3. Sufficient to influence public judgment or bring personal gain

Then, it’s no longer just “showing off” or “backlash”—
it may be seen as —
“Fraudulent conduct in a disaster scenario.”

So,
Fake charity during disasters is no joke:
It destroys trust,
misleads the public,
and crosses legal boundaries.

The more chaotic the time, the less you can afford to lie.