Scammers Exploit Facebook to Target Canberra’s Poorest

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• charity-fraud
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Fake pages on Facebook impersonated local charities like St John's Care to steal from vulnerable Australians. Despite repeated pleas, Meta failed to act promptly.

Canberra Charities Targeted by Facebook Scams

Workers supporting Canberra’s homeless have condemned Facebook for failing to stop scammers exploiting their charities for more than a year. St John’s Care, a well-known local charity, found itself repeatedly impersonated by fake Facebook pages offering fraudulent no-interest loans and diverting vital donations.

Scams That Prey on the Vulnerable

Scammers impersonated St John’s Care to offer 'no interest loans' (NILS), a service the charity does not provide. Vulnerable people, thinking they were applying through a trusted charity, handed over sensitive details like MyGov logins, driver’s licence numbers, bank credentials, and passwords. The fraudsters used these to redirect Centrelink payments into their own accounts, leaving victims penniless.

"I find it extremely distressing that people find that it's OK to take something from someone who has absolutely nothing," said Jason Haines, managing director of St John’s Care. Many victims called the charity in distress, saying, “They’ve taken my whole Centrelink pay. Now, we have nothing.”

Fake Appeals Diverted Crucial Donations

The scammers didn’t stop at fake loans. They also cloned the charity’s winter appeal, redirecting donations meant for food, clothing, and medicine to fraudulent accounts. With monthly food costs reaching $20,000–$25,000, every stolen dollar is a blow to those most in need.

Facebook Took Down the Wrong Page

At one point, the scammers reported the real St John’s Care page to Facebook — and Meta took it down. “Meta took us down, saying that we were the fake ones,” Haines explained. It took nearly two months to restore access. In the meantime, up to 15 impostor pages were active, despite weekly reports and pleas from the charity to remove them.

Meta’s Response

Meta claimed: “Meta doesn't want scams on our platforms and we are continuing to invest in tools and technology to prevent them.” However, those on the ground see little effect. Operations Manager Robbie Speldewinde said, “I’ve been dealing with [Meta] probably a couple of times a week, trying to get these impostor pages taken down.”

Why Aren’t the Scammers Caught?

The money stolen is transferred to bank accounts — which, in theory, should be traceable. Despite reports to police, Centrelink, and the ACCC, no arrests have been made. Australia’s National Anti-Scam Centre called the scams "despicable." Other charities, including The Good Shepherd and The Salvation Army, have also been targeted by similar Facebook impersonation tactics.

How You Can Help

St John’s Care’s winter appeal runs until the end of the month. To support their mission and ensure your donation goes to the right place, visit their official website or make direct contact through verified channels. Always be cautious when donating online—verify before you give.