How to spot fake emails and street collectors

This Easy Read tells you how to spot, and report fake Mencap emails, websites and street collectors.

• In a fake email you may see a link or button that takes you to a fake website which asks you for your credit card details.

You can sometimes spot a fake website by its address.

A true Mencap website address will start with https://www.mencap.org.uk or  https://www.mencap.givingpage.org.

• A fake Mencap email or website may offer you a job to collect money for Mencap and it may also tell you that you will get some of the money you collect.

• A fake Mencap email or website may ask you to send cash using a money transfer company like Western Union.

A true Mencap email address for sending Mencap a donation, or money for an appeal , will end in @mencap.org.uk.mc or @mencap.org.uk 

Mencap do not use email companies like BT internet or Google mail for their donation email addresses.

Street collectors are people who shake money tins in the street, or come to your door, asking you to give them money for a good cause.

They could tell you they are collecting for a charity like Mencap.

There have been lots of reports of fake collectors who say they are collecting for Mencap.

Sometimes fake street collectors will wear clothes with the Mencap logo on them.

Sometimes they wear Mencap badges or carry papers that make them look like they are from Mencap.

Any true Mencap collector will have a special reference number and a letter of authority from Mencap that allows them to collect money for Mencap.

A letter of authority is an official letter that allows someone to do something.

You can ask to see their letter and number before you give them any money.

If you think a Mencap street collector, website or email that is asking you for money is fake, you can contact the Mencap Supporter Care team by:

Phone: 0207 696 6007 Weekdays 10am - 4pm

Email: [email protected] 

If you want to check that money for any Mencap fundraising event or appeal is really going to Mencap, you can email: [email protected].

If you think you have given money or your bank details to someone using a fake email or website you should report it to your bank and Action Fraud. 

Action Fraud are the UK's national fraud and internet crime reporting centre. 

Fraud is when someone lies about something to get something from you.

Call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.