{"id":2598,"date":"2025-06-17T07:53:04","date_gmt":"2025-06-17T07:53:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/ukraine\/?page_id=2598"},"modified":"2025-06-17T09:15:18","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T09:15:18","slug":"assistance","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/ukraine\/safe-online\/assistance\/","title":{"rendered":"Seek assistance safely online"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"float:left;margin-bottom:20px\"><div style=\"margin-bottom:4px\"><strong style=\"text-transform:uppercase\">ON THIS PAGE YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT:<\/strong><\/div><a href=\"#share-your-request-for-assistance-safely-online\" style=\"color:#fff;background-color:#0072bc;text-decoration:none;float:left;margin-right:8px;margin-bottom:8px;padding:4px;padding-left:12px;padding-right:12px;border-radius:4px;font-weight:500;cursor:pointer\">Share your request for assistance safely online<\/a><a href=\"#get-in-touch-with-organisations-safely-online\" style=\"color:#fff;background-color:#0072bc;text-decoration:none;float:left;margin-right:8px;margin-bottom:8px;padding:4px;padding-left:12px;padding-right:12px;border-radius:4px;font-weight:500;cursor:pointer\">Get in touch with organisations safely online<\/a><a href=\"#understand-the-risks-of-oversharing-information-online\" style=\"color:#fff;background-color:#0072bc;text-decoration:none;float:left;margin-right:8px;margin-bottom:8px;padding:4px;padding-left:12px;padding-right:12px;border-radius:4px;font-weight:500;cursor:pointer\">Understand the risks of over-sharing information online<\/a><\/div><hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-default\" style=\"border:none;margin-bottom:20px;width:100%\" \/>\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">When seeking help from online communities and organisations, it&#x27;s crucial to protect your personal safety and privacy. <a href=\"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/ukraine\/en\/safe-online\/information\">Having learned how to identify safe online communities<\/a>, it&#x27;s now important to understand how to ask for assistance while minimising risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"has-x-large-font-size wp-block-heading\" id=\"share-your-request-for-assistance-safely-online\" style=\"margin-bottom:0.2em\"><strong>Share your request for assistance safely online<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Be mindful about the personal details you share online. <strong>Over-sharing, especially regarding your family, travel plans, or documents, could make you vulnerable to those with malicious intent. <\/strong>Criminals are always searching for such personal information, so they can steal your identity (pretend to be you) or use it against you in other ways. Approach online sharing with the same caution you would when interacting with a stranger in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Whether it&#x27;s for accommodation, employment, travel, or just general information, when you post a request for assistance, your safety and privacy should always be your top priority.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-bottom:2em\"><div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"background-color:#6AE8CC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;padding-bottom:1px;margin-bottom:20px\"><div class=\"emoji is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:white;width:50px;border-radius:25px;text-align:center;line-height:50px;height:50px;font-size:28px;margin-bottom:16px\">?<\/div>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-bottom:0.2em\"><strong>Your post will be safe if\u2026<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\" style=\"list-style-type:none;padding-left:0;margin-left:0\">\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-bottom:12px\">You\u2019ve <strong>spent time understanding<\/strong> the group&#x27;s dynamics by reading other posts and responses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-bottom:12px\">You&#x27;ve <strong>shared just enough<\/strong> to get help but left out details that could compromise your privacy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-bottom:12px\">Instead of exact locations, you&#x27;ve <strong>referred to general areas<\/strong>, like \u201caccommodation in the capital\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-bottom:12px\">You remember that <strong>not all responses might be in your best interest<\/strong> and to trust your judgment.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"background-color:#FFBCC1;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;padding-bottom:1px;margin-bottom:20px\"><div class=\"emoji is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:white;width:50px;border-radius:25px;text-align:center;line-height:50px;height:50px;font-size:28px;margin-bottom:16px\">?<\/div>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-bottom:0.2em\"><strong>Your post will be unsafe if\u2026<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\" style=\"list-style-type:none;padding-left:0;margin-left:0\">\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-bottom:12px\">You&#x27;ve <strong>included sensitive details<\/strong> like your exact location, ID documents, or detailed family information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-bottom:12px\">You\u2019ve <strong>revealed your vulnerabilities<\/strong> or legal status unnecessarily.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-bottom:12px\">You\u2019ve <strong>shared your emotions<\/strong> or present urgent requests that push for immediate action.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-bottom:12px\">You&#x27;ve <strong>detailed your future travel plans<\/strong>, locations you intend to visit, or specific dates and times of your movements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-bottom:12px\">You\u2019ve <strong>published pictures<\/strong> of yourself or your family.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Remember, while online communities can be a great resource, they&#x27;re no substitute for official advice and support services. Use these platforms as part of a broader strategy for seeking assistance, combining the communal knowledge with official resources and professional advice.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"text-align:center;background:linear-gradient(180deg, #0095F5 0%, #0072BC 100%);border-radius:10px\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/ukraine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2025\/06\/ukraine.en_.help-assistance-oversharing-en.png\" alt=\"Signs of revealing too much in your request for assistance\" style=\"max-height:540px;max-width:96%\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\" style=\"text-align:center;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:24px\">Signs of revealing too much in your request for assistance<\/figcaption>\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"has-x-large-font-size wp-block-heading\" id=\"get-in-touch-with-organisations-safely-online\" style=\"margin-bottom:0.2em\"><strong>Get in touch with<strong> organisations safely online<\/strong><\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>NGOs and humanitarian organisations, such as UNHCR, IOM, or UNICEF, play a crucial role in providing support and services<\/strong>. They are active on social media, offer informative websites, and assist through various communication channels. However, in times of crisis, there is often a sudden increase in the number of active helping organisations, and you might come into contact with some that are unfamiliar to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Criminals are aware of this and may exploit your need for assistance. They <strong>often mimic legitimate organisations on social media or create entirely new ones with attractive offers to deceive you<\/strong>. However, their promises are false, and falling victim to fraudulent organisations can lead to misuse of your data and jeopardise your and your family&#x27;s well-being.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-bottom:2em\"><div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"background-color:#6AE8CC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;padding-bottom:1px;margin-bottom:20px\"><div class=\"emoji is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:white;width:50px;border-radius:25px;text-align:center;line-height:50px;height:50px;font-size:28px;margin-bottom:16px\">?<\/div>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-bottom:0.2em\"><strong>Your can safely contact them if\u2026<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\" style=\"list-style-type:none;padding-left:0;margin-left:0\">\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-bottom:12px\">The organisation has a <strong>proven track record<\/strong> and recognised affiliations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-bottom:12px\">Their <strong>website is professional<\/strong>, current, and provides transparent information about their mission and data policies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-bottom:12px\">They are <strong>responsive<\/strong>, transparent and helpful when contacted directly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-bottom:12px\">Their <strong>legitimacy is endorsed<\/strong> by community leaders or through reliable referrals.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"background-color:#FFBCC1;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;padding-bottom:1px;margin-bottom:20px\"><div class=\"emoji is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:white;width:50px;border-radius:25px;text-align:center;line-height:50px;height:50px;font-size:28px;margin-bottom:16px\">?<\/div>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-bottom:0.2em\"><strong>Your shouldn\u2019t contact them if\u2026<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\" style=\"list-style-type:none;padding-left:0;margin-left:0\">\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-bottom:12px\">You&#x27;re <strong>unable to verify<\/strong> the organisation&#x27;s credibility and history.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-bottom:12px\">You <strong>feel pressured<\/strong> or unsure about the organisation&#x27;s intentions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-bottom:12px\">The organisation <strong>demands excessive personal information<\/strong> that isn&#x27;t necessary for your specific need.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-bottom:12px\">You <strong>haven\u2019t researched and confirmed<\/strong> the trustworthiness of the organisation.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Even with legitimate organisations, <strong>only provide the necessary data to your specific need<\/strong>. They rarely request copies of your documents or sensitive data online, often preferring in-person meetings at their offices or community centres instead. Always keep records of the information you share and with whom for future reference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background-color:#FCF366;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;margin-bottom:20px;padding-bottom:1px\"><div class=\"emoji\" style=\"background-color:white;width:50px;border-radius:50px;text-align:center;line-height:50px;height:50px;font-size:28px;margin-bottom:16px\">\u26a0\ufe0f<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>When discovering an organisation on social media, always check their history of older posts.<\/strong> A recently created profile can be a sign of harmful intentions, whereas well-established organisations typically set up their profiles 5-10 years ago. <a href=\"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/ukraine\/en\/safe-online\/communication\">Learn how to recognise fake social media profiles.<\/a><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"has-x-large-font-size wp-block-heading\" id=\"understand-the-risks-of-oversharing-information-online\" style=\"margin-bottom:0.2em\"><strong>Understand the<strong> risks of over-sharing information online<\/strong><\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">When you share information online, you may not always consider how it could be used beyond its intended purpose. However, your digital footprint you leave can be pieced together by those with harmful intentions, leading to a range of threats that can have significant impacts on your life and security.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-bottom:2em\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:#e0e0e0;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;padding-bottom:1px;margin-bottom:20px\">\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-bottom:0.2em\"><strong>Identity theft<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">When too much personal information is shared online, cybercriminals can use your details to impersonate you, leading to unauthorised transactions and other fraudulent activities in your name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:#e0e0e0;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;padding-bottom:1px;margin-bottom:20px\">\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-bottom:0.2em\"><strong>Impersonation to friends and family<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Cybercriminals can also use your information to impersonate you and contact your loved ones under false pretences. They might exploit these relationships to solicit money or sensitive details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:#e0e0e0;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;padding-bottom:1px;margin-bottom:20px\">\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-bottom:0.2em\"><strong>Using deepfakes against you <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">If your personal data and images are available online, deepfake technologies can create convincing fake videos or audio recordings of you. These manipulations can damage your reputation, blackmail you, or even put you in danger, especially if deepfakes are used to create compromising content.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-bottom:2em\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:#e0e0e0;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;padding-bottom:1px;margin-bottom:20px\">\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-bottom:0.2em\"><strong>Doxxing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Your personal details could be released to the public. For refugees, this exposure can be particularly harmful, potentially revealing your location or sensitive background to hostile parties or the general public.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:#e0e0e0;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;padding-bottom:1px;margin-bottom:20px\">\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-bottom:0.2em\"><strong>Targeted phishing attacks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Leaked personal contact details can lead to phishing attacks, where cybercriminals aim to steal sensitive information, access important accounts, or gain control of personal data, leading to significant losses.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">For the displaced population, <strong>these risks are amplified even further by the unique challenges of your situation<\/strong>. By being aware and cautious of what you share online, you can significantly reduce the risks and protect your digital identity. Remember, in the online world, your information is as valuable as any physical asset, and its protection is key to ensuring your safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-default\" style=\"border:none;margin-top:34px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"height:100%\"><a href=\"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/ukraine\/en\/safe-online\/information\" style=\"text-decoration:none\"><div style=\"position:relative;height:100%;min-height:100px;color:#fff;width:100%;padding:10px;background:linear-gradient(180deg, #0095F5 0%, #0072BC 100%);text-decoration:none;overflow:hidden;border-radius:10px;text-align:left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/ukraine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2025\/06\/pagination-previous.png\" alt=\"Background\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:contain;opacity:0.7;object-position:top left;left:0\" \/><span style=\"font-size:14px;font-weight:bold;text-transform:uppercase\">previous chapter<\/span><br \/><h3 style=\"position:relative;z-index:1;font-size:22px\"><strong>Identify reliable sources of information<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"height:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-top:0\"><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"height:100%\"><a href=\"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/ukraine\/en\/safe-online\/offers\" style=\"text-decoration:none\"><div style=\"position:relative;height:100%;min-height:100px;color:#fff;width:100%;padding:10px;background:linear-gradient(180deg, #0095F5 0%, #0072BC 100%);text-decoration:none;overflow:hidden;border-radius:10px;text-align:right\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/ukraine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2025\/06\/pagination-next.png\" alt=\"Background\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:contain;opacity:0.7;object-position:top right;right:0\" \/><span style=\"font-size:14px;font-weight:bold;text-transform:uppercase\">next chapter<\/span><br \/><h3 style=\"position:relative;z-index:1;font-size:22px\"><strong>Verify the offers you receive online<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ON THIS PAGE YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT: Share your request for assistance safely onlineGet in touch with organisations safely onlineUnderstand the risks of over-sharing information online When seeking help from online communities and organisations, it&#x27;s crucial to protect your personal safety and privacy. Having learned how to identify safe online communities, it&#x27;s now important to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":347,"featured_media":0,"parent":2591,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2598","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/ukraine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2598","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/ukraine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/ukraine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/ukraine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/347"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/ukraine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2598"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/ukraine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2598\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3036,"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/ukraine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2598\/revisions\/3036"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/ukraine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2591"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/ukraine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2598"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}