I’m standing in line at the post office when a post on my phone stops me. It shows a crying child in a flooded street, with a bank QR code underneath and the words “Share to help.” The picture is heartbreaking, and my thumb moves toward the code before I’ve even thought about it.

Then I look at the picture a little longer. There is no charity name, no town, and no news story, just a sad photo and a way to send money. I stop and think about who it is that wants me to hurry.

So I looked into it. Here’s what I found.

A Government Minister Warns of AI-Made ‘Sympathy Scams’: Fake Distress Pictures With a Bank QR Code Attached

SCAM WARNING — A sad picture and a QR code are not proof of a real charity.

On Nov. 2, 2026, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Communications, Teo Nie Ching, warned the public about what she called the latest “sympathy scam.” Scammers are using AI to make emotional pictures of people in distress and pairing them with QR codes linked to bank accounts, so a viewer can send money with one scan.

Several suspected AI-generated posts have circulated recently showing distressing scenes with QR codes for donations. Social media users noticed inconsistencies and implausible details in the pictures, which made them suspect the images were made with AI. Teo also said her ministry had received complaints from people whose photographs and names were used without permission to ask for donations.

The numbers show how large the problem has become. According to Malaysia’s communications regulator, social media platforms received 174,099 requests to remove scam-related posts as of Oct. 15 this year, up from 102,113 in all of 2025. Platforms removed 170,633 of this year’s requests, about 98%, which Teo said reflects how clear-cut most of the deception is.

Teo urged people to verify any appeal before donating and not to let anyone exploit their compassion. She advised people whose photos or identities have been misused to file a police report so investigators can trace the bank account holders, and to report suspicious posts to the regulator.

The same trick can work anywhere. Consumer agencies such as the FTC say fake charities often appear right after a disaster or big news event. Before you give, look the group up in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search or on a watchdog site such as BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, or CharityWatch, and give through the charity’s own website instead of a code or link in a post.