AUTHORISED fundraisers with the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) have had their job made tougher by scammers pretending to be from BreastScreen NSW.
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Genuine door-knockers with NBCF are in the Tamworth area until the end of the month, but at the same time BreastScreen NSW has received a number of reports of a possible fundraising scam.
"It was reported that a number of people were being approached at home by fundraisers who identified themselves as representing BreastScreen," a BreastScreen NSW spokeswoman said.
"BreastScreen NSW has a responsibility to the community to act on these reports.
"The service has informed the local police, who are the most appropriate service to investigate reports of this nature."
BreastScreen NSW falls under NSW Health and doesn't fundraise or take donations, it has reported the scam occurred in Maitland as well.
The organisation provides free breast screening mammograms to women aged 50 to 74, and has increased the survival rates of thousands of women.
Meanwhile NBCF, the nation's leading body that funds game-changing breast cancer research relies solely on money raised by the public.
A spokeswoman said that what they do would not be possible without the support and generosity of the local community.
"NBCF fundraisers represent our brand, the work we do at NBCF and play an integral role in helping us achieve our goal of zero deaths from breast cancer by 2030," she said.
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"They were present in Tamworth last week and they would have been wearing NBCF branded shirts or jumpers and badges which show their identity.
"If you have any concerns about the legitimacy of a NBCF fundraiser please contact the NBCF team on 1300 708 763."
Concerns were first raised online by members of the local community on a Facebook page about the legitimacy of fundraisers in pink shirts in the area.
NCBF door-knockers will be in Tamworth until the end of the month.
Anyone who may have been targeted as part of a scam can report it online or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.