Trading Standards are warning people not to hand over donations of clothing and unwanted household goods to bogus charity firms.
The warning comes after Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards team reported an increase in the number of bogus charity collection leaflets and bags dropping through residents’ letterboxes.
The leaflets and bags often ask for donations of clothing plus other unwanted household goods, and claim the items will be sent to worthy causes and reused.
Come of the door-to-door collections are not made by genuine registered charities but by businesses that simply sell the items for profit.
Councillor Lyn Ackerman, cabinet member for the environment said: “Bogus charity collections not only mislead householders, but they also deny genuine charities of vital donations.
“These companies often give a mobile telephone number as the contact, together with a company or registration number, which can easily be confused with a charity number.
“Donating your clothing to genuine charities helps to raise vital funds, but please make sure that your donation goes to a legitimate charity or organisation, and if you are in any doubt at all, check the authenticity of the charity.”
Residents are advised to carefully check the leaflets and bags to look for a proper charity number and not just a company number before making a donation.
The council has said it is probably better to take any donations straight to a local charity shop or wait until you know of a legitimate charity collection.
Anyone with any doubt about the legitimacy of a charity can check with The Charity Commission’s website or by calling 0845 300 0218.
Caerphilly Trading Standards are keen to hear of any bogus charities in the area and can be contacted on 01495 235 291.