Avoid grinches who prey on generous Queenslanders

‘Tis the season of giving but don’t let your generosity be taken advantage of by charity scammers this Christmas.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie said there are some simple steps that can keep people safe and ensure real charities benefit instead.

“It is the Queenslander spirit to be there for others, to give to those who need it but sadly there are also people out there looking to make a quick buck under the guise of charity,” Mr Bleijie said.

“Not only do these scams cost you money, they also divert much needed donations away from legitimate charities and causes.

“Charity scams operate in a number of different ways so it is important to be able to identify the difference between a genuine charity and a scammer.

“Generally, if you are approached on the street the scammer will not have any identification, will put pressure on you to donate and won’t give you a receipt.

“If it is an online charity scam, it usually operates via a fake website which is likely to be a very close replica to a legitimate charity site.”

“I encourage all Queenslanders to continue to give this season, but make sure the charity is the real deal.

“You can do this by keeping the following tips in mind to protect yourself from scammers:

• Approach charity organisations directly
• Only give out your personal, credit card or online account details when you initiate contact
• Ask to see identification if you are approached
• Check whether a charity or appeal has authorisation by conducting a free search on the Office of Fair Trading website at www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au
• Delete any suspicious emails
• Contact your bank or financial institution immediately if you think you have provided your account details to a scammer

Mr Bleijie said any organisation that wishes to publicly fundraise in Queensland must be registered as a charity or sanctioned community purpose organisation.

“There are a lot of great organisations out there doing a terrific job for Queenslanders doing it tough this Christmas,” he said.

“I would like to say a big thank you to all charity groups who play such an important role in the community.

Check whether a charity or appeal has authorisation by conducting a free search on the Office of Fair Trading website at www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au.

For more information on charities and appeals visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or call 13 QGOV (13 74 68).

[ENDS] 17 November 2013

Media Contact: Ashley McDermid 0412 731 355 or Katherine Hornbuckle 0402 862 351