Charities are being urged to get involved in next month’s Charity Fraud Awareness Week, to highlight ways the sector can combat fraudsters and cyber criminals.
This year’s campaign is focused around the line ‘We Can Do This’ and is being promoted on social media via #StopCharityFraud.
A pledge to combat fraud, for charities to sign, will be released ahead of the week, which takes place 18-22 October.
There will also be webinars for the sector as well as other online resources for charities, including a staff quiz, content for meetings and advice on running staff fraud awareness sessions.
In addition a Charity Fraud Awareness Week supporters pack has been made available , which includes social media graphics.
Among those involved is the Charity Commission, which said: “All charities, NGOs and not-for-profits are susceptible to fraud and can be targeted.
“Those providing services and supporting local communities may be especially vulnerable to fraudsters attempting to exploit current national and global crises to carry out fraud and cybercrime.
“This means that now - more than ever - charities need to be fraud aware and take steps to protect their money, people and assets from harm.”
Other organisations involved in the awareness week include the Fraud Advisory Panel.
📣Charity Fraud Awareness Week is only 4 weeks away!
— Fraud Advisory Panel (@Fraud_Panel) September 20, 2021
If you are a charity trustee, staff member, volunteer or professional advisor then download our supporters pack with information on how to get involved and help us #StopCharityFraud @ChtyCommission https://t.co/6DjZUZ613F pic.twitter.com/Wk86y7ique
Last year it emerged that a third of charities suffered a cyber attack during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Phishing, where criminals try to obtain sensitive data by pretending to be a trustworthy source, and malware were highlighted as the most common attacks on charities.
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