By Melissa Coleman
It’s that time of year when generosity abounds, and the urge to give to support those in need is strong, but caution must be applied, especially this festive season.
Australia’s 60,000 charities do extraordinary work and deserve our support this Christmas, so the national charity regulator and local police are urging everyone to be generous but cautious before they donate to charity this Christmas season.
A QPS spokesperson said be on the lookout for scammers trying to take advantage of goodwill by pretending to be a charity or good cause online.
“Signs of a scam can include an unexpected phone call, text or email and demands for immediate payment or personal information.
“Often scammers will apply inappropriate pressure, such as aggressive behaviours and threats as part of the scam,” the spokesperson said.
Prior to providing any personal information or payments of any kind, it is important to verify a caller’s identity, regardless of the phone number displayed or the company the caller claims to work for.
The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) announced last week that data breaches and fake charities are on the rise.
Acting ACNC Commissioner Deborah Jenkins said hundreds of thousands of dollars have been lost to fake charity scams so far this year, according to data from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
And with the recent data hacks of Optus and Medibank, more people are vulnerable to scams.
“With cost-of-living pressures and the impacts of floods in many parts of the country, we all know many people need our support right now.
However, scammers prey on this season of generosity and goodwill.
The use of text messages, email, social media or calling on the telephone are all ways scammers will try to pull at heartstrings, asking us to dig deep or to make a snap decision.
“Our Charity Register makes it simple to verify that an organisation is a registered charity,” Ms Jenkins said.
“It instantly shows you details such as an organisation’s ABN, or if it is up to date with required reporting. These are basic signs that a charity follows the rules – that it is accountable and transparent.”
“We strongly recommend that rather than clicking on a link you were sent, it is better to go to a charity’s website and follow the steps provided,” Ms Jenkins said.
“If you are considering making a donation this Christmas, approach legitimate charity organisations directly to make a donation or offer support,” the QPS spokesperson added.
