EOFY Charity Scams Surge: How to Donate Safely This Tax Season

• EOFY Scams
• Charity Safety
• Tax Season

Scammers exploit end-of-financial-year generosity with fake charity appeals. Learn how to spot, avoid, and report EOFY charity scams.

EOFY Charity Scams: A Risk to Your Generosity

With EOFY in June, scammers exploit our goodwill by impersonating charities via fake websites, phishing emails, SMS, phone calls, crowdfunding pages—and even letters. According to COBA’s Financial Crimes & Cyber Resilience team, now is the prime time for charity scams. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

How Do Charity Scams Operate?

• Impersonation: Scammers mimic well-known charities or create names that sound similar.
• Disaster appeals: They prey on sympathy after natural disasters by sharing real images to solicit fake donations. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
• Cold calls: Emotional phone stories are used to pressure you into giving financial or personal details.
• Emails and social media: Messages with links lead to fake donation pages designed to capture data or card info. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
• Fake events: Scammers host fabricated auctions, concerts, or fundraisers, pocketing proceeds. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Smart Ways to Donate Safely

• Verify the charity: Only give to registered charities listed on the Charity Register or relevant state registers. Legit charities confirm their status on request. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
• Go directly to the source: Don’t click links in unsolicited messages. Visit the charity’s official website via the Charity Register listing. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
• Be cautious of calls: If you receive an unsolicited call, say you’ll call back using the number from the Charity Register. Hang up if pressured. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

What to Do If You Suspect a Scam

• Report it: Notify Scamwatch and ReportCyber to help protect others. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
• Contact your bank: If you’ve donated and suspect fraud, notify your bank/card provider immediately.
• Stop further payments: Freeze cards or stop recurring transactions to limit losses.

Why This Matters

EOFY is a time when Australians can get tax deductions on donations of $2 or more to deductible gift recipients (DGRs). But awareness is key—scams are using this to lend legitimacy to fake appeals. COBA warns of June’s scam spike, urging donors to remain vigilant. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

Final Takeaway

Donating can bring real rewards—benefitting both those in need and your tax return. But only when you do it safely. When altruism meets caution, everyone wins.