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With Comic Relief approaching, a few fraudsters are jumping on the bandwagon and faking fundraising in supermarkets, the Charity Commission warns today.
Bogus collectors are using fake charity registration numbers to con supermarkets into giving them permission to collect in their stores.
The Commission advises supermarkets to be on guard.
Safeway's Droitwich store, which is now part of the Morrisons group, exposed the scam when it was contacted by someone wanting to fundraise on its premises.
The organisation gave a fake charity name, 'Child's Wish', and the Comic Relief charity registration number. It was only when the supermarket contacted Comic Relief that it realised the charity didn't exist.
Jon Deakin, Store General Manager of Safeway Droitwich, said:
"I am pleased that a member of staff showed great vigilance in recognising that this was a bogus charity and that by informing the Charity Commission we managed to prevent the collection from taking place at our supermarket and others in the future."
David Rich, Head of Investigations at the Charity Commission, said:
"The fact that someone phoned the supermarket quoting the Comic Relief registration number shows how plausible this scam is.
We really want to see people giving to genuine causes on red nose day.
That's why it's crucial that supermarkets know how to distinguish between what's genuine and what's not."
The Commission is advising supermarkets and anyone donating over the weekend, to follow these simple steps when approached by a fundraiser:
* Make sure the charity has a genuine registration number - this can be checked with the Commission, via its website or contact centre.
* Ask questions: has Comic Relief heard of the charity? How much of the donations raised will go to charity?
* Contact your local town hall or the Charity Commission on 0870 333 0123 if you still have concerns.
All registered charities are listed on the Commission's website at www.charitycommission.gov.uk
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