HEARTLESS fraudsters are posing as fake charity collectors before taking money from kind-hearted victims.

There has been a spate of charity scams in Greater Manchester and police are warning residents to be vigilant of them.

The criminals will trick people by pretending to be collecting for a well-known charity or one that does not exist.

They will often claim to be taking part in a sponsorship event or ask people to donate things such as household items.

But the crooks will keep the cash for themselves or sell the donated goods.

Detective Sergeant Stacey Shannon, of Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) Economic Crime Hub, said: “Prying on people’s sympathy on false pretences and using it for personal gain is truly despicable.

"Of course there are many legitimate charity collectors fundraising for good causes and every pound given to a scam charity is a pound less that can be donated to a worthy and reputable cause, so it’s important that people follow our advice when giving to charity.”

Bury Times:

GMP has released a list of signs for people to watch out for in detecting a fake charity collector.

Here they are:

• Their promotional material or website may be badly written or have spelling mistakes.

• The charity collector might be vague about what the charity does or is fundraising for.

• They might be aggressive or try to pressure you into donating.

• They could use topical events such as a natural disaster as an excuse for their charity only being created recently.

How to protect yourself:

• Ask – genuine charity collectors will be more than happy to give you more information about the cause and answer your questions about where your money is going.

• Check – they should have a registered charity number, you can check this through the Charity Commission. They should also have a license if they are collecting in a public place.

• Go direct – if you are in doubt, contact the charity yourself and check (do not use the details provided to you be the collector).

• Take your time ¬– don’t feel pressured to donate then and there. Take your time to think it over and you can donate directly to the charity at a later time.

If you think you have been a victim of charity fraud, report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or visit actionfraud.police.uk.