Tsunami victims - Bogus appeals
THE Charity Commission is warning that misleading leaflets claiming to collect for the Tsunami earthquake victims are being distributed by clothing collectors asking for clothing and cash. Areas so far targeted include London, Lincolnshire, East Anglia, Leicestershire and Essex but previous similar scams show that other areas tend to follow.
The Commission is advising local people to be extremely cautious about donating to such misleading appeals. Many of these collections are not registered charities - although they often give fictitious or limited company numbers - and there is no guarantee at all that donations will reach victims of the earthquake. The Charity Commission's Chief Executive, Andrew Hind said, "It's incomprehensible that some people want to take from survivors of a disaster left with absolutely nothing. I'd urge the generous public to take their clothes to a genuine charity shop and to make their cash donations to an established appeal fund such as the Disasters Emergency Committee.
Help the victims - don't let bogus collectors help themselves" The main appeal fund is being co-ordinated by the Disasters Emergency Committee (http://www.dec.org.uk) and donations can be made via most high street banks and building societies as well as on-line.
Gift Aiding donations allows charities to claim back an additional 28% on most donations.