Consumer Watch with Natasha Pirrottina: How to give wisely to charities this Christmas and avoid scammers

Christmas is a time when many of us look for ways to support others, and West Aussies have always shown incredible generosity during the festive season. As you consider donating to charities this year, it’s worth taking a few simple steps to make sure your contribution goes exactly where you intend. Scammers often take advantage of people’s kindness by pretending to be well-known charities through emails, text messages and social media. If you receive a message asking for a donation, it’s safer to visit the charity’s official website yourself rather than clicking on any links. This small precaution can help protect your personal information and money. Donating directly to a charity is also the best way to make your gift count. Some third-party fundraising platforms and collectors may deduct fees before passing on the funds, which means your donation may not reach the charity in full. By going straight to the charity you want to support, you can be confident your contribution is making the biggest impact. The benefit of dealing directly with your chosen charity, rather than through third-party collectors, is you avoid exposing your personal or financial details to an additional source. Protecting your information as much as possible during this time of frequent data breaches will go a long way to stop it falling into the wrong hands. If someone approaches you in person, calls you, or contacts you online asking for donations, take a moment to check who they are representing. Check their credentials and confirm the charity will receive the full amount you intend to give. The same goes before donating through an online platform or to an individual fundraiser. Check the campaign is authorised by a licensed charity and confirm whether the full amount will be passed on. If you’d like to check whether a charity or not-for-profit organisation is licensed, you can use the online search tool on the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety’s Consumer Protection website. Any suspicious charity activity can be reported to WA ScamNet online or by calling 1300 304 054. By taking a few extra moments to double-check who you’re giving to, you can help ensure your generosity reaches those who need it most this Christmas.