Im a mod in a sub and we recently got a user who wanted to make a post introducing/discussing his media organization/charity, which has a website with a “donate” button. The org looks legit…ish. But not really. I have no idea, and some parts of it make me skeptical.

Theres no track record for the org, and most of the qualifications of the author are not verifiable with a web search. All of them actually are not verifiable except for his affiliation with another equally obscure organization I have never heard of. He also says he has an academic qualification/job but google returns zero proof of this.

The website accepts donations and if it is a fraud it could cause real harm. Some of the content on the website is awkward in tone and reminds me of the wording I have seen white nationalists use and concerns me, although the org claims to be innocent and doing the opposite.

I have grown concerned about the organization and I honestly think I might have stumbled on something that could be fraudulent or possibly a veiled (albeit fledgling) hate organization. But I can’t prove it yet.

1) How can I determine if his organization is a real charity and media organization?

2) How can I determine he is the legit person he says he is?

3) If he has made false claims about his qualifications or the organization’s planned initiatives on his website, where should this kind of fraud be reported?

4) on the off chance this is totally legit and just a young organization, how can I request proof from the user without seeming like an a**?