Scammers Mimicked Dollywood Foundation Charity Sites
Digital operators and donors should verify site URLs to avoid directing funds to fraudulent entities.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Philanthropy
Fraudsters have established deceptive websites imitating the Dollywood Foundation to misappropriate charitable donations intended for the Imagination Library. These malicious actors are actively distributing links to the fake portals via email, text messages, and social media.
Why it matters
The campaign aims to intercept funds earmarked for child literacy, posing a significant reputational risk to the foundation and financial loss for individual donors. Organizations and individual contributors must remain vigilant against phishing tactics that leverage trusted charity names for illicit gain.
Official reports identified fake websites soliciting funds in the name of the Dollywood Foundation, which currently maintains only one legitimate donation site. The scope of the fraudulent network remains under investigation.
The players
Dollywood Foundation
A charitable organization focused on promoting children's literacy through its Imagination Library program.
The details
Scammers have launched deceptive web pages designed to mimic the aesthetics and messaging of the real Dollywood Foundation. These actors circulate links through various digital channels, including direct messages and social media, to capture traffic intended for the charity's Imagination Library program. Operators should note that the only authorized platform for donations is ImaginationLibrary.com.
Timeline
October 1, 2026: Official report on scam activity published.
Market Landscape
This incident follows the documented trend of brand-impersonation phishing attacks targeting non-profit entities. It serves as a reminder that major philanthropic brands remain high-value targets for digital bad actors seeking to exploit public trust.
Donors and businesses should verify the URL before initiating any financial transaction to confirm it leads to the official ImaginationLibrary.com site. Flag any unsolicited social media or email donation links to the relevant platform security teams.
The takeaway
Cybercriminals are actively leveraging the Dollywood Foundation name to capture funds intended for children's literacy. Always manually enter the URL into your browser rather than clicking links in emails or messages to prevent accidental financial fraud.
Further reading
For more on industry integrity, visit the Philanthropy section.
More information
To donate safely, visit the official imagination library donation site.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WJAR.
