From PCSO Moulding,

The festive period is traditionally a time when charities seek donations. Most collections and appeals are legitimate but be aware fraudsters are looking to exploit our charitable nature and steal donations. One of the most common ways of doing this is online.

Tips to protect yourself.

Visit the charity's website by typing the address into your browser rather than clicking on a hyperlink embedded in an email.

Before you donate, check the website you are on is secure. The web address should begin with https:// (the ‘s’ stands for secure) and look for the padlock symbol.

Do not respond to requests to donate through a money transfer company such as Western Union or MoneyGram.

If you are still worried, a legitimate charity will advise you on other ways to give on their website or via a phone call.

Thank you,