DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

Is donating to Unicef legitimate?

22 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/is-donating-to-unicef-legitimate.169230/

ithehappy
ithehappy Original post #1
Jan 22, 2013 at 3:51 PM
Recently this popup/ad keeps coming up on the screen and I am sure you guys have seen it already. I was wondering if it's legitimate or not? I mean will the amount go at appropriate place or just another crap and stealing method for different needs? You know what I mean.
*www.donatetounicef.org/?camp=dchildsurjan13appnex

Thanks in advance.
pranav0091
Jan 22, 2013 at 3:56 PM
The security seal on their page (near the credit card section) doesnt lead back to the security vendor. Could be just bad design, but its suspicious anyway.
NoasArcAngel
Jan 22, 2013 at 4:28 PM
Site check report for donatetounicef.org ()

well it looks alright ..

hostip.info :

Host name: 216.172.169.174
IP address: 216.172.169.174
Location: Tampa, FL, UNITED STATES

hmm website hosted by hostgator.... ...

Extended Validation (EV)
This SSL Certificate will not display a green address bar in the visitors browser, nor the identity of the website owner or the Certificate Authority. EV SSL Certificates have the highest level of trust and security.

no EV

Recently this popup/ad keeps coming up on the screen and I am sure you guys have seen it already. I was wondering if it's legitimate or not? I mean will the amount go at appropriate place or just another crap and stealing method for different needs? You know what I mean.
*www.donatetounicef.org/?camp=dchildsurjan13appnex

Thanks in advance.


www.unicef.org.in leads to *www.donatetounicef.org/?camp=sparshmar2012

well its a fake.

*www.ewhois.com/unicef.org.in/

Created On:07-Mar-2012 05:41:36 UTC
Last Updated On:23-May-2012 07:01:47 UTC
Expiration Date:07-Mar-2013 05:41:36 UT

also check this ... the official donate to unicef : *www.ewhois.com/supportunicefindia.org/

*in.linkedin.com/in/yvats - one of the admins according to whois lookup.
ithehappy
Jan 22, 2013 at 9:07 PM
Site check report for donatetounicef.org ()

well it looks alright ..

hostip.info :

Host name: 216.172.169.174
IP address: 216.172.169.174
Location: Tampa, FL, UNITED STATES

hmm website hosted by hostgator.... ...

Extended Validation (EV)
This SSL Certificate will not display a green address bar in the visitors browser, nor the identity of the website owner or the Certificate Authority. EV SSL Certificates have the highest level of trust and security.

no EV




www.unicef.org.in leads to *www.donatetounicef.org/?camp=sparshmar2012

well its a fake.

Unicef.org.in - Unicef - Whois Lookup, Reverse IP Lookup

Created On:07-Mar-2012 05:41:36 UTC
Last Updated On:23-May-2012 07:01:47 UTC
Expiration Date:07-Mar-2013 05:41:36 UT
So this one is fake as well. Good :cool:
also check this ... the official donate to unicef : Supportunicefindia.org - Supportunicefindia - Whois Lookup, Reverse IP Lookup

Yashasvi Vats (yash@vats.name) LION 1000+ - India | LinkedIn - one of the admins according to whois lookup.
So this one is legit? I get a page like this,
tkin
tkin #5
Jan 22, 2013 at 10:16 PM
This is the real one, took one search in google: *www.supportunicefindia.org/Donation/SupportUSNew.aspx
ithehappy
Jan 23, 2013 at 12:31 AM
Yeah, that's the one. Thanks for confirming.
NoasArcAngel
Jan 23, 2013 at 8:33 AM
So this one is fake as well. Good :cool:

So this one is legit? I get a page like this,

yup as db6mg already pointed out thats the real one. Btw id suggest if you wish to make such transactions, making it in person is always the best. better than that help the needy yourself. :)
desai_amogh
Jan 23, 2013 at 1:44 PM
besides.. before making any donations to such organisation do check where your money is going..
things like Salaries of Charity CEOs Compared - Urban Legends should matter to you when your putting your hard earned money for good cause
ithehappy
Jan 23, 2013 at 3:03 PM
yup as db6mg already pointed out thats the real one. Btw id suggest if you wish to make such transactions, making it in person is always the best. better than that help the needy yourself. :)
I already have been doing this for more than 5 years now. Just 3 institutions I'm connected with, but still. Problem is I can't manage time to be present by myself, that's why I was thinking about online.
besides.. before making any donations to such organisation do check where your money is going..
things like Salaries of Charity CEOs Compared - Urban Legends should matter to you when your putting your hard earned money for good cause
I'll check what that is. Thanks.
M
mastervk #10
Jan 23, 2013 at 3:26 PM
for online donation "giveindia" is a good option..You can register your account and then select your cause and organization you want to donate to.you can also set up automatic deduction.I am using it since last 5 years..
desai_amogh
Jan 23, 2013 at 5:11 PM
I'll check what that is. Thanks.

thts just the 1st link which came up in google search.. most of these international organisations have made charity a business.. profits are shared as salaries amounting to millions of dollars...
NoasArcAngel
Jan 24, 2013 at 2:52 PM
there was this joke, for every dollar you donate to unicef, 3 cents goes to charity and 97 cents to the salaries :D
tkin
tkin #13
Jan 24, 2013 at 3:05 PM
there was this joke, for every dollar you donate to unicef, 3 cents goes to charity and 97 cents to the salaries :D
And from that link I think its true, f'n cheats.
ithehappy
ithehappy #16
Jan 25, 2013 at 2:49 AM
Oh I see.
avinandan012
Jan 25, 2013 at 9:05 AM
charity is the biggest pure profit business atleast in India.
pranav0091
Jan 25, 2013 at 12:40 PM
charity is the biggest pure profit business atleast in India.

+1. Mostly true if not always.

Wanna do charity? Do it yourself, something as small as 10 rupees instead of 1 to an elderly/weak beggar is a good starting point.. (Now, don't accuse me of supporting begging. I know what I am doing and I'll be very pissed if some wannabe samaj-sudharak pulls that argument out of his mouth) In fact I much prefer to do that instead of donating to organisations (never, Simply because I dont know how it'll be used, who is going to benefit out of it or how much of it actually reaches the people-in-need). Or you could send some money to the bank accounts of some poor kid who is suffering from some disease and his parents are unable to fund the treatment. You see such appeals on newspapers on an almost daily basis. They can be fake as well, but I generally make a call to the phone number given and talk a little bit and convince myself of the case (Not very foolproof, but still, I think we can pretty much make out from the voice at the other end...)
desai_amogh
Jan 25, 2013 at 4:02 PM
^ +1

There are 100s of oldage homes or orphanages around every city/states. instead of donating money (i mean if you really want to make sure ur money is going for a good cause) go check with the autorities what their rquirements are. buy books, clothes, food for them. At best even if you give them sweets on a weekend, etc...
ithehappy
ithehappy #20
Jan 25, 2013 at 4:05 PM
It's very easy to say, 'do it yourself'. Well to do these things, I need to run a business first, that's what gives me the juice to contribute to some unfortunate people, I hate the term poor, everyone is poor at some point. Besides there is a limitation of 'do it yourself', I mean it's limited to a confined area. That's why I wanted to go online, as I said. If Unicef and those institutions are cheating then obviously that's their problem, but mine :/
Besides, I am already 'doing it myself' as I said.
+1. Mostly true if not always.

Wanna do charity? Do it yourself, something as small as 10 rupees instead of 1 to an elderly/weak beggar is a good starting point.. (Now, don't accuse me of supporting begging. I know what I am doing and I'll be very pissed if some wannabe samaj-sudharak pulls that argument out of his mouth) In fact I much prefer to do that instead of donating to organisations (never, Simply because I dont know how it'll be used, who is going to benefit out of it or how much of it actually reaches the people-in-need). Or you could send some money to the bank accounts of some poor kid who is suffering from some disease and his parents are unable to fund the treatment. You see such appeals on newspapers on an almost daily basis. They can be fake as well, but I generally make a call to the phone number given and talk a little bit and convince myself of the case (Not very foolproof, but still, I think we can pretty much make out from the voice at the other end...)
pranav0091
Jan 25, 2013 at 7:11 PM
^^
I understand your intention buddy, its a very honorable one :)
But I'd suggest you to build up your cash reserves rather than making donations on suspicious looking sites. Because the way I see it, its not the donation amount that actually matters, rather its the impact that it has on the lives of the less fortunate. I have come up from a comparatively economically-poor family myself and I know how it feels (or so I think). I was lucky enough to have atleast enough to eat for all the regular meals and a roof over my head, but I also realise that charity is not about the money alone, its more about the impact on the people concerned. I do understand that a lot of us dont have the time to personally make time for charity, but isnt it better to have a person in need to actually benefit from your contribution than some random person using up your well-intentioned/hard-earned donation to buy the latest hot-wheels set to his kids? Just my opinion :)
ithehappy
ithehappy #22
Jan 25, 2013 at 11:29 PM
Yeah, you're right, totally.
But what a shame this institutions are, they are cheating with donation money, jeez!