The trading watchdog is warning people to be wary of doorstep con men who are ripping off legitimate charities to the tune of £1 million a year.

The Office of Fair Trading said the con artists were tempting households with flyers promising to distribute unwanted belongings to poor countries. In reality, the collections seem to be organised by commercial operators who sell the donated items for profit.

The misleading impression is in some instances reinforced by reference to a registration number, which people may think is that of a Registered Charity but is in fact a limited company number.

The Association of Charity Shops estimates that the potential value of donated clothing and other items ‘lost’ to legitimate charities as a result of these bogus collections amounts to over £1m per annum.

Many genuine charities rely on such doorstep collections for a substantial proportion of their shop sales. If a householder has any doubts about a leaflet asking for donations, they should:

• Contact the Charity Commission helpline on 0870 333 0123 to check whether the collection is for, or on behalf of, a registered charity.
• Contact their local authority to see if the collector has been licensed.
• Give direct to a local charity shop instead or donate to a charity shop collection sack. These should make clear reference to the charity registration number and many will also carry the Association of Charity Shops Kitemark.

Antony Robbins, Head of Communications at the Charity Commission, said, ”We're asking people to be generous but be smart and don't let bogus collectors put you off giving to charity. Check for a registered charity number and feel free to check the number with us.”

“Together we can help make sure that donations go to genuine charities to help them carry out their vital work,” Robbins said.