Aylesbury MP urges vigilance after Coronavirus charity scams

Rob Butler, MP for Aylesbury is urging people to help ensure their donations reach genuine charities responding to the COVID-19 crisis, following reports to Action Fraud and Trading Standards of scammers targeting vulnerable people.

For example, there have been incidents of people posing as charity volunteers offering to help with shopping, or claiming to be raising funds for charity.

Rob is encouraging people to support only registered charities, such as Heart of Bucks which has set up a Bucks Coronavirus Response Appeal. By giving to a registered, regulated charity, people can be assured that their donations will be accounted for in line with charity law.

Rob said:“It’s been fantastic to see the generous community spirit across the constituency throughout the coronavirus crisis.

"I’d like to thank all the coordinators and volunteers of community groups who are helping the most vulnerable people in Aylesbury and the nearby villages.

"It’s appalling that scammers are trying to take advantage of the kindness and goodwill of local people, so I’d like to encourage those who would like to donate money to check that they are supporting registered charities.”

The Charity Commission for England and Wales has provided some tips to donate safely:

-Check the charity’s name and registration number at gov.uk/checkcharity. Most charities with an annual income of £5,000 or more must be registered.

-Make sure the charity is genuine before giving any financial information – it’s ok to decide not to give on the spot. Be wary of unsolicited emails from charities you have never heard of and be careful when responding to emails or clicking on links within them.

-Exercise the same caution as with any other internet transaction, for example, to donate online, visit the charity’s own website and always type the website address into the browser yourself.

-Contact or find out more online about the charity that you’re seeking to donate to or work with to find out more about their spending. Ask a trusted friend, neighbour or relative if you are unable to research this or need a second opinion.

-Ignore requests to donate through a money transfer company.

-If in doubt about an approach, give to a charity that you have an existing relationship with.

Baroness Tina Stowell, Chair of the Charity Commission, said:

“British people have a proud tradition of charitable giving and generosity, and this pandemic is already giving rise to that spirit of charity and community that brings people together. We want to ensure that people do so safely and in the most effective way possible so that people in need get help. We encourage everyone wanting to donate money to follow our simple steps to check that they are donating to a registered charity.”

Lord Toby Harris, Chair of the Fundraising Regulator, said:

“Charities are a lifeline to many local communities and play a vital role in supporting people across the UK, particularly at a time of national crisis. Unfortunately, we have heard of some individuals who have used the Coronavirus outbreak as a means of defrauding the public, so we urge you to check that an organisation is legitimate before you give to it.”

Louise Baxter, Head of the National Trading Standards Scams Team, said:

“As people stay indoors to prevent the spread of COVID-19, criminals are preying on people in vulnerable situations who are isolated and living alone. The criminals often claim to represent charities to help them appear legitimate before taking the victim’s money. There are genuine charities providing support, so consumers should be vigilant and ask for ID from anyone claiming to represent a charity.”