# Charity Commission warns of possible scams around East Africa crisis appeal

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2011/07/27/charity-commission-warns-possible-scams-around-east-africa-crisis-appeal/
- Published: 2011-07-27T11:18:29+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The Charity Commission is advising the public on how they can ensure that they avoid
falling for fake charity appeals set up around the drought and food shortage crisis
in East Africa.

 

 

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The Commission is aware that such scams are likely, based on previous experiences
with disaster appeals such as the Haiti earthquake and the Japanese earthquake and
tsunami. These fake appeals can take the form of fake appeal websites, email appeals
that falsely use the name of genuine charities, or appeals from fictitious charities.

 

 

 

The Commission is urging the public to keep giving but to be vigilant. It has issued
the following advice for those who wish to make a donation:

 

 

 

• Be careful when responding to emails or clicking links within them. Don’t “click-
through” from suspicious-looking emails and beware unfamiliar or excessively long
website addresses. If you want to donate online, type in the charity’s website address
from your homepage.

 

 

 

• Watch out for poor grammar and spelling in emails and other documents, including
collection envelopes or clothing bags. This can also be a sign they are not genuine.

 

 

 

• If you have any concerns about the legitimacy of a request for donations that 
appears to come from a charity, don’t hesitate to contact that charity directly.
Be wary of any appeals where contact details for the charity are not provided. You
can find genuine contact details for charities on their websites or on the Register
of Charities, which is available on the Charity Commission website www.charitycommission.
gov.uk.

 

 

 

• If you are in any doubt about a charity collector, ask for their identification
and the charity’s name and registration number. If you are not happy about giving
then and there, you can check to see if the charity is on the public Register of
Charities.

 

 

 

• If you are concerned that you may have been targeted by a fundraising scam, you
should report this to Action Fraud http://www.actionfraud.org.uk and the police.
You should also contact the Charity Commission – www.charitycommission.gov.uk.

 

 

 

• Think about how you are going to give. If you are a UK taxpayer and donate directly
to a charity – whether online, over the phone, by post or by handing in a cheque
at the charity’s office or shop – it can claim Gift Aid to maximise your donation.

 

 

 

The Commission also pointed out that there are laws around collecting money for 
charity in public which are there to protect donors and make sure that the money
raised goes to a genuine charitable cause.

 

 

 

It advises members of the public that, if they want to fundraise for those who have
been affected by the crisis in East Africa, they should:

 

 

 

• Have the necessary permission from your local authority or the Metropolitan Police
if you live in a London borough.

 

 

 

• Only collect using a sealed tin or container.

 

 

 

• Always make sure you state the name and registration number of the charity you
are collecting for.

 

 

 

• Always make sure there is more than one person to count the collection proceeds
and sign off the total amount.

 

 

 

• Bank any cash as soon as possible, preferably straight into the charity account.
Get a receipt from the Bank/Building Society.

 

 

 

• Report back to your community so they are reassured that the money has reached
the good cause. You may wish to put notices in shops/post offices, or let your local
paper know how much you raised and thank people for their support.

 

 

 

http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/FAQS/Running_a_charity/fundraising/766.aspx

 

 

 

 * **[DEC creates new website](https://fundraising.co.uk/2011/08/04/dec-creates-new-website/)**(
   4 August 2011)
 * **[DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal raises £72 million in 100 days](https://fundraising.co.uk/2011/10/17/dec-east-africa-crisis-appeal-raises-72m-100-days/)**(
   17 October 2011)
 * **[Charities Aid Foundation publishes trends about giving to disaster appeals](https://fundraising.co.uk/2011/10/17/charities-aid-foundation-publishes-trends-about-giving-disaster-appeals/)**(
   17 October 2011)