Charity Scams
Fraudsters use
charity scams to appeal to the emotions of consumers. Many people have a heart
for charities that help the less fortunate. Fraudsters will set up fraudulent
charities to receive donations, or they will use names similar to, or the same
as well-known charities.
Fraudsters use
various methods to receive donations for their charity scams. They can set up
tables at busy shopping centres; knock door-to-door, call households, any way
they can contact consumers to appeal to their emotions. You also need to
look carefully at appeals for clothing or other household items received via a
notice through your door, in some cases these are commercial concerns that have
no charitable status. Always beware if the notice has minimal, if any contact
details, or only provides a mobile phone number as a point of contact.
When there are
natural or other disasters, charity scam artists come out in droves, claiming
they are helping the victims of the disaster in some way.
Prevention
If you want to
make a donation for a particular benefit, contact the well-known charities
yourself. Even though a person at your door may claim to be from a well-known
charity, do not give them any money. Ask them how you can donate direct to the
charity. Genuine charity collectors will provide this information.
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