West Aussies are a generous bunch of people, and the festive season often inspires acts of kindness. For some people this means donating food for Christmas hampers, and for others it means opening their wallets to donate to a charity close to their heart.
Sadly, there is a need for vigilance, even during the most joyous time of year. There are unscrupulous people who are out to take advantage of the good will of others.
So how can we ensure our donations are reaching those in need, rather than lining the pockets of scammers?
Scammers may pose as a real charity and target victims via unsolicited emails, text messages and social media posts. The best advice is to ‘practice the pause’ and don’t click on any links. Instead opt for safer methods of donating, such as finding the charity's official website through a search engine or the charity register.
While it is important to identify legitimate collectors for your chosen charity, it is also worth considering if there are additional costs that may be associated with donating via online platforms or collection agencies
Third-party collectors usually receive a fee for every donation they secure. Online fundraising platforms may also charge a fee for their services, which in some cases can significantly impact on the value of your donation.
Whether you’re approached at your doorstep, in a shopping centre, or over the phone, ask the collector if they are from the licensed charity itself and will they receive your donation in full.
Another benefit of dealing directly with your chosen charity, rather than through third-party collectors, is you avoid exposing your personal or financial details to an additional source.
Protecting your information as much as possible during this time of frequent data breaches will go a long way to stop it falling into the wrong hands.
Consumer Protection encourages people to continue to donate where they can as charitable giving is an important and beneficial part of Christmas.
To verify the legitimacy of a charity or not-for-profit organisation, check if they’re licensed on our charity register.
If you think you may have been scammed by a fake charity, there’s no shame in reporting it to us via scamnet.wa.gov.au or call 1300 30 40 54, email consumer@demirs.wa.gov.au.
