ICFAW: Promoting Charity Fraud Awareness

• This year’s International Charity Fraud Awareness Week (ICFAW) spans from October 21 to October 25.
• ICFAW is a coordinated international campaign by governmental and non-governmental institutions to help prevent charity fraud.

The Federal Trade Commission, the National Association of State Charities Officials, and partners from state and across the world are coordinating to help charities and donors stay safe from fraud.

The participants

Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, Charities Commission for England & Wales, and New Zealand Charities Service are among the key international participants.

Non-governmental institutions include the British Council, Chartered Accountants Worldwide, and UK’s Fraud Advisory Panel.

Tips for individuals

Many charities are in need of donation, and to ensure that the funds reach the deserving, here are a few tips for individuals.

• Search about the charity online to make sure it’s not a scam.
• Verify the charity’s reports and ratings. There are various sites online that provide this information.
• Beware of charity names that are almost the names of legitimate charities.

Tips for businesses

Apart from the tips for individuals, businesses can refer to the Tips for Retailers: How to Review Charity Requests that offers other recommendations.

Worth noting

The FTC has released an article to promote the International Charity Fraud Awareness Week.

“Generosity is part of the American spirit, and millions of consumers show that generosity every year through charitable giving. Unfortunately, bad actors take advantage of that generosity, which is why it’s important to raise awareness about charity fraud,” said FTC Chairman, Joe Simons.