Bogus charity collectors are taking doorstep clothes donations and selling them for profit, Wiltshire Trading Standards has warned. Leaflets being dropped through letter boxes have asked for unwanted clothes for distribution to poor countries.
But following local concerns it was found that some had been sent out by people seeking commercial gain.
Sue Wilkin, trading standards team leader, urged people to check for a charity number on the flyers.
"Our advice to people is to check before you chuck," she said.
"Generally, the leaflets carry information relating to business status.
"Some may, however, have pictures or wording which could indicate connection to a charity. Unless the charity number is shown, this is unlikely to be so."
The Office of Fair Trading said genuine charities were losing thousands of pounds a year because people mistakenly gave unwanted belongings to con artists.
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