Charities hit by vile web scams

FRAUDSTERS are cashing in on Remembrance Sunday with a string of online merchandise scams.

Scammers claim their wares commemorate our war dead and they donate to charities including the Royal British Legion.

But it is illegal for sellers to make the claims without official charity tie-ins.

The crooks are believed to be paying as little as £10 for ads on social media sites selling brooches, lapel badges and scarves.

One Facebook ad by a site calling itself Heroes Forever, offering lapel badges at £12.95 each, has had 285,000 views.

The website claims the Royal British Legion “benefits” from sales.

Legitimate

But people who have ordered items have said weeks later nothing has arrived in the post.

The RBL says it is probing the Heroes Forever site, which has now been taken down, as well as two sites called heroesinfflanders and inflandersfields.

The Royal British Legion said: “Sales of legitimate RBL poppy products raise vital funds for our work.

“Commercial entities who raise funds on behalf of the RBL must do so under contract. We monitor the activities of those who claim to raise money on our behalf to ensure their activities are legitimate.”

Facebook said it was looking into the accounts.

A spokesman said: “All advertisers must adhere to our standards, which set out limits for acceptable behaviour and content. That includes misleading ads. We have removed the ad shared with us.”

Heroes Forever has no connection to the US charity of the same name, helping kids with cancer.