The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) is warning people not to fall for dodgy scams this holiday season to ensure their donations do not wind up in the hands of fake charities.
Commissioner for the ACNC, Gary Johns said financial losses to fake charities were on the rise, with reported losses from January to mid-October this year outstripping the total amount lost in 2020.
“As we emerge from lockdowns and head into the Christmas and festive season, naturally we want to be generous and support Australian charities, especially after all they have done to help us get through the past couple of years,” Dr Johns said.
“But I urge everyone to do a quick check of our Charity Register before donating,” he said.
“You can instantly verify an organisation’s credentials and know your dollar is going to help the people or project you want it to help.”
Dr Johns also asked donors to be attentive when giving to third-party crowd funding appeals.
The Commissioner said people should be aware that, although a third party may make promises about how funds would be used, charities were bound by their own rules.
“We know that some confusion and disappointment arose from some 2020 bushfire appeals, as charities could not spend money in the way third party fundraisers had promised,” he said.
“Here again it can help to check a charity’s stated purposes on the Register.”
Dr Johns said in order to avoid being scammed and before making donations, people should check the ACNC Charity Register; avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails and social media posts; not give their credit card or bank account details on social media; look for established, registered charities running verified appeals; not give personal details if they received unsolicited calls claiming to be from a charity; ask for identification from collectors at shopping centres, on the street or at their front door; and check labels on donation bins to ensure they were for charitable collections.
The ACNC’s Charity Register can be accessed at this PS News link.
