Shabana is urging people in Birmingham Ladywood to ensure they give only to genuine registered charities.
Shabana is urging people in Birmingham Ladywood to ensure they give only to genuine registered charities.

Shabana Mahmood, MP for Birmingham Ladywood, has joined charity regulators and Action Fraud to urge people in Birmingham Ladywood to ensure they give only to genuine registered charities this Christmas.

Figures from the National Fraud Reporting Centre show that almost £350,000 of charitable donations ended up in the pockets of criminals over the festive period last year.

Shabana is urging people to check before giving to help ensure their donations reach genuine charities. Action Fraud, the Charity Commission, and the Fundraising Regulator have warned that while the vast majority of fundraising appeals and collections are genuine, criminals can set up fake charities, or even impersonate well-known charitable organisations to deceive victims.

By giving to a registered, regulated charity this Christmas, people in Birmingham Ladywood can have confidence that their generous donations will go where they are most needed.

To find out which charities are operating in Birmingham Ladywood please visit the Charity Commission’s improved Register of Charities: https://www.gov.uk/find-charity-information.

Shabana Mahmood MP said:

“I know that this year has been extremely difficult for so many in Birmingham Ladywood and I have been impressed and touched by the generosity and kindness that has been shown across the community.

“Sadly, some criminals try to take advantage of others’ kindness.  But by staying vigilant, constituents can be confident that their generous donations will go where they are needed – rather than lining the pockets of charity scammers”.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

  1. For further information or comment, please contact Luke Holland on 07447 008098 or email luke@cathoddu.com.
  2. Research around charitable givingwas commissioned by the Charity Commission and the Fundraising Regulator. It was conducted online from 15 – 17 November 2017 by ICM Unlimited, with a sample of 2000 people weighted to reflect the population.
  3. Charities themselves can be vulnerable to threats such as insider fraud or beneficiary fraud. The Commission encourages charities to make use of free tools and advice available via its Fraud Awareness Hubto strengthen their defences against fraud and ensure they do not fall victim over the festive period.
  4. The Charity Commission recently launched an improved public register of charities, which makes more information about individual charities available to donors and the public. Visit this at gov.uk/checkcharity.

 

 

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