Beware of cyclone fundraising scammers

As communities impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred begin clean-up and recovery efforts, the NSW Government has issued a warning about potential fundraising scams.

“The great Aussie spirit that sees many people want to dig deep to help others in a time of need can be taken advantage of by scammers,” the State government said in a statement.

“NSW Fair Trading is warning donors against scammers who often seek to exploit this goodwill by setting up fake fundraising pages or posing as legitimate charities.”

Top tips to avoid fundraising scams:

• Check credentials: Only donate to registered charities with a charitable fundraising licence.
• Avoid unsolicited requests: Be wary of phone calls, emails, or social media messages asking for donations.
• Research before you donate: Use official channels like the ACNC Charity Register and Verify NSW.
• Report suspicious activity: Visit Scamwatch and NSW Fair Trading.

To check if a charity is legitimate and holds a charitable fundraising licence, visit Verify NSW here: https://verify.licence.nsw.gov.au/home/Charities or use the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Charity Register here: https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities.

To report a scam or express concerns about illegitimate fundraising activities, visit Contact Scamwatch here: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/ and NSW Fair Trading here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/fair-trading/complaints-and-enquiries or call NSW Fair Trading on 13 32 20.

Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said it was inspiring to see the outpouring of support to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred victims from NSW communities,”but we want to ensure donations reach those in need rather than unscrupulous scammers”.

“Unfortunately, scammers will take advantage of people’s goodwill during a natural disaster like ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

“Scammers can be very convincing, often using emotional appeals, fake social media pages, or crowdfunding platforms so please be scam-aware and contact NSW Fair Trading if you are in doubt.”