FundRaising Standards Board

FRSB News

• Latest News
• Events
• FRSB in the News
• Member Case Studies
• Keep in Touch

5 December 2011

Public Awareness Campaign Tackles Bogus Charity Collections

A public awareness campaign is launching today (05 December 2011), alerting the public to bogus charity collections – a growing problem that is estimated to cost UK charities up to £50 million in lost income annually.  

The Bogus Bags campaign seeks to help people distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent charity collections, encouraging them to give with confidence to genuine UK charities.  The campaign is led by the Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB) and supported by fellow industry bodies; the Institute of Fundraising (IoF), Charity Retail Association and Textile Recycling Association.

The campaign is backed by Charities Minister Nick Hurd MP, who expresses his concern about the impact of bogus collections on public trust, saying: “The increase of bogus charity collections is of great concern to me, not least because of the damage that these thieves are causing to charities across the nation. Perhaps even greater cost is the loss of public confidence as charity supporters express growing concerns and fears over donating goods.”

Charity collections of household goods are an important way of not only reducing waste and preserving the environment, but of generating vital funding for good causes. Collectors deliver branded bags to households asking the public to fill them with unwanted clothes and goods for a set collection date. Whether collected goods are passed on for resale at charity shops, sold overseas or recycled, they can generate a solid income stream for good causes.

Meanwhile, fraudulent collections have increased considerably in recent years with the FRSB recording an increase of 100% in public complaints about the issue and the Charity Retail Association reporting that 10% of a recent sample of bag collections were found to be bogus. The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau affirms that bogus collections are carried out by organised criminals, with links to money laundering, human trafficking and serious violent offences. Typically, goods collected by such gangs are transported to Eastern Europe where they are sold at a considerable profit.

The Bogus Bags campaign launches in Kent and will be rolled out across key crime hotspots throughout England and Wales between now and February 2012.

Alistair McLean, Chief Executive of the Fundraising Standards Board – the self-regulatory body for UK fundraising, adds “While charity bag crime is a worry for all, we are asking people to remember that the large majority of collections are legitimate. Charities really need your support, so it’s simply a case of ensuring that your goods go exactly where you want them to go. By making a few simple checks, you  can give with confidence to the charities that so desperately need our support.

“ And, if you have suspicions that a collection is not legitimate, make sure you report it. The more intelligence is gathered, the more the authorities can identify, arrest and convict those involved.”

The Bogus Bags campaign features a local press campaign, delivered through local MPs and local authorities, alongside a public awareness leaflet that will be distributed to a target 500,000 households.  The campaign advises residents to make the following checks before donating goods through a household collection :

• Check – Legitimate charity collection bags will clearly state what organisation(s) funds are being raised for and feature a registered charity number. Check these details with the Charity Commission www.charitycommission.gov.uk.
• Look for the tick – As with any fundraising appeal, you can look for the FRSB tick logo indicating that the charity is signed up to fundraising regulation and to industry standards. See www.givewithconfidence.org.uk.
• Call – A legitimate collection should include a working landline telephone number for you to call. Call this or your local council to query the collection.
• Report - After making these checks, if you think that a collection is not legitimate, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit www.actionfraud.org.uk.

This campaign follows the success of the recent Give With Care campaign in Scotland (led by the Institute of Fundraising and the FRSB) during September and October which engaged the support of more than 20% of MSPs and saw the delivery of 180,000 leaflets across Scotland, supported by Clothes Aid.

Return