North Wales MS Mark Isherwood is urging people to check before giving to help ensure their donations reach genuine charities this Christmas.
Action Fraud, the Charity Commission, and the Fundraising Regulator, have warned that while the vast majority of fundraising appeals and collections are genuine, criminals can set up fake charities, or even impersonate well-known charitable organisations, to deceive victims.
By giving to a registered, regulated charity this Christmas, people in North Wales can have assurance that their funds will be accounted for in line with charity law.
With Action Fraud and the charity regulators, Mr Isherwood is urging everyone to follow some simple steps to ensure they have a #FraudFreeXmas this year.
He said:
“I have been heartened and encouraged to witness the generous community spirit that people across North Wales have demonstrated this year. I would like to thank all those who have been looking out for vulnerable neighbours and friends. I also want to encourage those across North Wales who choose to donate this Christmas, to support registered charities, and to be vigilant against ‘charity’ scams. Together, we can look after those in North Wales who need our help.”
Pauline Smith, Head of Action Fraud, said:
“Charities do incredibly important work, helping those in greatest need, especially at this time of year. Unfortunately, criminals will try to abuse the generosity and goodwill of others and this can have a huge financial impact on charities and the good causes they support.
“We would encourage people not to be put off donating to charities, but instead to be vigilant. Make sure you do your research and follow our simple steps to ensure you’re giving your money to a legitimate charity. Don’t let your donations end up in the wrong hands this Christmas.”
Take the following steps to make sure your donations go to the right place:
- Make sure the charity is genuine before giving any financial information. Look for the registered charity number on their website. You can check the charity name and registration number at https://www.gov.uk/find-charity-information.
- You can also check if a charity is registered with the Fundraising Regulator. All charities registered here have made a commitment to good fundraising practice: https://www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/directory.
- If you’re approached by a collector on the street or at your door, ask to see the collector’s ID badge. You can also check whether the collector has a licence to fundraise with the local authority, or has the consent of the private site owner.
- Don’t click on the links or attachments in suspicious emails, and never respond to unsolicited messages and phone calls that ask for your personal or financial details – even if it’s in the name of a charity.
- To donate online, type in the address of the charity website yourself rather than clicking on a link. If in any doubt, contact the charity directly about donating.
- Be cautious when donating to an online fundraising page. Fake fundraising pages will often be badly written or have spelling mistakes. When donating to an online fundraising page, only donate to fundraising pages created by someone you know and trust.
After making these checks, if you think that a fundraising appeal or collection is fake, report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.