Common scams in missions:
1) Building projects... fake receipts, "cost over runs," fake photos, "ministry" buildings get used for personal real estate, the buildings quickly fall into disrepair
2) Multiple affiliations... Church changes the sign board name according to the organization
3) Orphanages without real orphans
4) Disasters... example: "We had an earthquake" But the earthquake hit on the other side of the country not even close
5) Persecution... example: Photos of real persecution in India used as a sympathy ploy for fund raising in Nepal.
6) Exaggerations... Especially church plants, numbers of converts, baptisms, church "affiliates."

Know who you are giving to.
Know geography