Cancer scam a ‘low blow’

The Cancer Society has issued a scam alert after an elderly woman was called by a person asking her to donate to the Daffodil Day campaign.

The scammer talked about her own recent diagnosis and ill-health before asking for credit card details.

The Kapiti Coast woman refused to give her details and immediately notified the Cancer Society.

Society president Claire Austen said the organisation would never ask people to give such details, and said it was a ‘‘pretty low blow’’.

‘‘They’re either incredibly dishonest or incredibly desperate to do something like that. Obtaining money through fraud from the Cancer Society is actually taking from people with cancer because all the money goes to support services and research and supporting families, accommodation, all of those things. We don’t get any Government funding at all.’’

She was relieved the scam was unsuccessful and said it appeared the scammer was just randomly approaching people out of the phone book.

The longstanding Daffodil Day campaign has become the face of fundraising for cancer research in New Zealand and this year will be held on Friday.

Austen said people could still donate safely to official Cancer Society street collectors, through the ANZ bank, via a text number or online.