# Possible scams against charities

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/1999/02/12/possible-scams-against-charities/
- Published: 1999-02-12T15:51:00+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**The UK voluntary sector is not immune to being hoaxed, deceived and defrauded.
Indeed, some individuals and organisations specifically target charities and fundraisers
in the belief that they are a soft touch.**

UK Fundraising brings you news of scams and possible hoaxes that have allegedly 
been attempted on charities.

If you think you have been approached by a fraudster, please don’t contact UK Fundraising.
Instead, contact the relevant agency from the list at the bottom of this page. That
said, we should be happy to publish the result of any successful investigation into
fraudulent activities against charities and fundraisers.

## Advertisement

## Telephone scams

A handwritten fax arrives at a charity which reads “Dear Sir or Madam, could you
please fax me back with an address of where I can make a donation to your charity?”
The return fax number was a premium rate line, but the fax omitted to mention that
fact.
_Source: ThirdSector, 21 January 1999, p.5_

## Magazines

A bogus fundraising magazine based in Dumfries may be operating according to charities
which have had their details published without their permission. Fundraisers at 
Capability Scotland were surprised to hear that Quest magazine had been sold from
house to house for £2 with an article about their work which prompted for donations.
The Glasgow branch of the British Diabetic Association, however, had received £100
a month in exchange for information. ThirdSector magazine could not contact the 
magazine at its contact telephone number.
_Source: ThirdSector, 7 January 1999, 
p.4_

## Thefts from charities

To get a sense of the scale of scams attempted against charities, and sometimes 
from within charities, explore our round-up over several years.