"Charity" clothing scam warning

PEOPLE donating clothes to charities are being urged to check the small print on "charity" leaflets, flyers, adverts and other literature.

The warning comes from East Sussex County Council trading standards officers following a number of complaints from concerned residents about clothing collection business operating in the East Sussex area.

Some businesses have put flyers through letterboxes appealing for donations of unwanted clothes, footwear and household items to be distributed to families in eastern Europe and the third World.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The flyers give the impression that the items are for charity but Trading Standards Officers believe the collections are organised by businesses that may sell the clothes and other items for profit.

The leaflets have been carefully worded to give people the impression they would be donating to a charity but a check of the leaflet's fine print revealed that the company is a commercial organisation and not a charity.

Councillor Bob Tidy, lead county cabinet member for community services, said: "We are not saying that people shouldn't give clothes to these businesses. But residents should be aware that the organisations concerned are not registered charities and consequently the clothes may be sold for profit.

"The people behind these companies are depriving legitimate charities and misleading the public into lining the pockets of businesses who sell donated goods for profit. So our advice will always be to check the small print before donating."