According to a post published yesterday by 中国社会组织动态, the official WeChat account of the Social Organizations’ Management Office of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, fake social organizations have been sending out requests for funds masquerading as attempts to fundraise for the coronavirus relief efforts.
The post reminds everyone that, “according to the Charity Law of the PRC and the relevant laws and regulations, charity organizations that have registered with the Civil Affairs departments and possess the qualifications for public fundraising, as well as the Red Cross at all levels nationally, are allowed to carry out legal fundraising activities. Private companies, individuals and social organizations without the qualifications for public fundraising are not allowed to start fundraising activities directly.”
The post also reminds members of the public that they can go to a specific website set up by the ministry to learn more about the regulations, and they can report illegal attempts to fundraise to the local Civil Affairs departments, and attempts to carry out scams in the name of charity to the Public Security departments.