Beware of charity scams warns TSS

The Trading Standards Service (TSS) has reminded local businesses to beware of charity scams, following the winding up in the public interest of Manchester-based company Supporting Link Ltd.

The company had led several Northern Ireland-based businesses into believing they were helping charities by advertising in its publications, such as annual guides and diaries, but in reality the company only donated less than 1% of its 2003 turnover to charity.

The judge in the case, which was brought by the Department of Trade and Industry, said that the business of this company “was founded and continued on the basis of deception.”

Supporting Link was wound up because:

• The DTI investigation could find no evidence of the guides ever having been distributed;
• Did not specify how much it would pay to charity;
• Had used the logos of several charities without their consent;
• Had failed to comply with the requirement to check whether people had registered with the Telephone Preference Service;
• Pursued even those who claimed not to have placed orders, in an aggressive manner.

Stuart MacMurdo, of the TSS, said: “Evidence produced by the Trading Standards Service in Northern Ireland helped the DTI successfully bring this case. However, Supporting Link Ltd was only one of a number of companies involved in this type of activity and so the business community should stay on its guard.”

In order for businesses to avoid being ripped off in the future, Mr MacMurdo said the TSS provided advice to businesses against such charity scams.

Any business concerned about charity donations can contact TSS on 028 9025 3900.

(MB)