Warning about London charity street scammers after man had £5,000 taken when donating £10

Shoppers and workers in south-east London have been warned to watch out for scammers pretending to be charity fundraisers after a man lost £5,000 when agreeing to donate £10.

A local in Bromley reported that they had agreed to donate to a charity after being approached by a so-called “chugger” claiming to represent a charity.

The resident agreed to donate £10, but their initial payment appeared to be declined. They were asked to enter their PIN a second time before the transaction was successful.

When the resident later checked their online banking app, they discovered £5,000 had been debited from their account, according to Bromley Council’s Trading Standards team.

Following the incident, the local authority has warned those wanting to donate to charity workers on the street to “take extra care”.

The Conservative-led administration urged would-be donors to ensure the operation they are giving to is legitimate and represent the charity they purport to work for.

A council spokesman said: “Following concerns about local fundraising activity, residents are being advised to take extra care when making charitable donations and to ensure any contribution is going to a legitimate cause.

The scam happened on a high street in Bromley

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“While many charities rely on public generosity, this goodwill can potentially be exploited to obtain money or personal and financial information.

“Taking a few moments to verify who is asking for a donation can help ensure funds reach the intended charity.”

Strict rules are imposed by the Fundraising Regulator on legitimate charity money-raising activities by UK charities.

Charities must have been granted permits, and fundraisers must wear ID badges that are “at least the size of a credit card”, the regulator said.

“Door-to-door, private-site and street fundraisers should be identifiable by clothing that clearly displays the charitable institution’s branding,” the watchdog said on its website.

Street charity fundraisers were colloquially known as “chuggers” due to the sound of them rattling the loose change in their collection buckets or tins.

Most charities actively warn against such behaviour, however, following watchdog guidance that fundraising street vendors should not cause a nuisance or annoy the public.

Bromley Council said genuine fundraisers should be able to provide identification and details of the charity they represent.

The south-east London authority said if there was any doubt, donations should be made via the charity’s official website.

The council advised residents to never feel pressured into donating on the spot, ask for identification, and be particularly cautious of collectors who request cash only, or become pushy when questioned.

It also told residents to never provide a card PIN or other sensitive banking information, carefully review any paperwork before agreeing to regular payments, and be vigilant when approached online or by telephone, and never click links in unexpected messages.