Aussies urged to be wary of charity impersonation scams

The festive season is a popular time of year to give to charities, and it's no surprise scammers will try and capitalise on this generosity. As the Christmas season looms closer, so do charity Christmas appeals. While these charities deserve your support, it's important to be sure you’re giving to a real charity, not a scammer masquerading as one. Australians have already lost over $400 million to scams between January and September this year, and that number is only expected to rise. 

“Cyber-criminals are out there, trying to take advantage of our kind-heartedness and generosity, especially at this time of year. The latest official data shows Australians lost $3.1 billion to scammers last year. There were hundreds of reports of fake charity scams to Scamwatch, but we know it is likely that significantly under-represents the actual incidence”, says Sue Woodward, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commissioner.

So – how do you know if the person you’re talking to is genuinely working with a charity and not a scammer? Firstly, they won’t make it seem like your donation is an urgent matter of life or death if you decline. A scammer will likely push hard for you to donate at that very moment, instead of giving you time to think about your decision. 

If they can’t tell you exactly what your donation will be used for or if they ask you to pay through wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, there’s a high chance it’s a scammer and not a real charity. 

“Charities need our support now more than ever. They are contending with cost of living pressures and many are also responding to increased demand. At this time of year, we think of those that provide free meals, as well as those that deliver housing and mental health services, but there are many more being impacted," Ms Woodward said.

The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) recommends a simple check before donating – if you get a text, email, or phone call asking you to donate to charity, don't click any links or give away any personal information like your name or banking details. 

Donate to the charity directly, or head to the Charity Register to check if the organisation is a real, registered charity instead of blindly trusting links embedded in emails or giving your details to someone over the phone.