Fake charities and charity fraud: what to watch out for

While they are relatively rare, sometimes people run scams where they pretend to be collecting for a fake charity. You should avoid giving to such collectors. Real charity collectors will always be happy for you to give online or send a cheque later if you would prefer to.

Signs of fake charity collections to look out for:

• The collector is vague about what the charity’s name is or what it does.
• There is no charity name or registration number visible.
• The charity registration can’t be verified on the Charity Commission website.

If the fraud is in the name of a genuine charity, please let the charity know so that they can pursue the fraudsters.