The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau’s (NFIB) Proactive Intelligence Team have identified an emerging fraud where social media platforms are being used to attract members of the public to donate money to animal welfare charities overseas that do not exist.
The NFIB has discovered that criminal groups based in Spain or Cyprus and are using social media to target donors from the UK. The money is then laundered from the UK to overseas and rather than be used to tackle animal cruelty it is simply used to support a criminal lifestyle in the sun.
They will canvass for contributions through their existing social networks which will expand over time, attracting more donors.
The NFIB were informed that the people committing this fraud are merely supplementing their income as they are always linked to organised crime groups in the UK and overseas.
Protection advice
Sometimes the article or post on social media may indicate the payments are for charitable organisation or a “worthy cause”. Sadly not in all instances are these genuine, and if any doubt please undertake your own due diligence.
If the collection is for a charity you know is genuine, check the collection is authorised by asking the charity directly, using contact details from the phone book or a website that you know is genuine.
Watch out for poor grammar and spelling.
Send your donation to the charity directly. This may mean going to a little more trouble, but at least you can be sure your donation will get to where it’s intended.
If you have any concerns you can also get further information from Gov.uk.
- GNR seized 270 kilos of bivalves in Olhão and Quarteira
- GNR recovers stolen sacred art piece 21 years ago
- Portuguese military force ambushed in Central African Republic
- Hurricane Lorenzo reaches the Azores
- Eighty one arrests in investigation targeting Spanish cocaine trafficking group
- Tancos Military Weapons theft case: Former Director of the Military Judicial Police Luis Vieira will ask to make a pre-trial statement
- Azores prepares for arrival of Hurricane Lorenzo
- GOVERNO PRORROGA PERÍODO CRÍTICO DE INCÊNDIOS
- Government Extends Critical Fire Period unitil 10th October 2019
- Azores Regional Government prepares the necessary measures to face Hurricane Lorenzo
- Four GNR military defendants accused of Tancos in disciplinary proceedings opened by IGAI
- PSP detain two persons for using counterfeit 100 Euro bank notes
- Four arrested for international drug trafficking at Lisbon airport
- Secretary of State for Civil Protection Resigns from office
- São Miguel Island – Person identifies in connection with the theft of gold items from a resident
