Is this donation request from Cancer Council a scam?
Scammers exploit people's generosity by posing as trusted charities like Cancer Council, especially after disasters and during major appeals. A donation request, text or email that looks like it's from Cancer Council can be genuine — but it can just as easily be a scam built to look identical. The good news: a few quick checks almost always tell a real Cancer Council message from a fake.
Genuine Cancer Council links only ever go to cancer.org.au. Below is exactly what a real Cancer Council message looks like, the scams currently circulating in its name, the red flags that give a fake away, and a real example to compare against. Got a message in front of you? Check it now for an instant verdict.
What a real Cancer Council message looks like
Genuine messages from Cancer Council only ever link to cancer.org.au.
- Emails only come from addresses ending in @cancer.org.au
- Donation appeals appear on cancer.org.au or the official state Cancer Council sites
- Cancer Council never sends unsolicited SMS asking for donations
- Genuine messages contain no links directing you to a different domain
- Australia's Biggest Morning Tea and Daffodil Day campaigns are always promoted on cancer.org.au
Crucially, Cancer Council will never pressure you to donate instantly via gift cards, cryptocurrency or a transfer to a personal account — you can verify any charity on the ACNC register.
Common Cancer Council scams
- SMS claiming to be from Cancer Council thanking you for a past donation and urging you to 'complete your Daffodil Day gift' via a fake link
- Email inviting you to buy a virtual ticket for Australia's Biggest Morning Tea with payment sent to a lookalike domain
- Messages stating your workplace has nominated you for a fundraising pack and asking for credit-card details on a spoofed page
Red flags to watch for
- Any SMS or email asking for a donation that contains a shortened link or a domain that is not cancer.org.au
- Requests to pay by bank transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency
- Urgent wording such as 'last chance to donate before Daffodil Day ends today'
- Sender address that uses cancer-council.com.au, cancer-council.org or any variation other than cancer.org.au
Scam text examples
Here's a real example of a scam message impersonating Cancer Council, with the tell-tale red flags highlighted. Compare it against anything you've received.
Thank you for your support last Daffodil Day. To complete your 2024 donation and receive your pin, please finalise payment here: cancer-council-donate.net/secure
What gives it away:
- Any SMS or email asking for a donation that contains a shortened link or a domain that is not cancer.org.au
- Requests to pay by bank transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency
- Urgent wording such as 'last chance to donate before Daffodil Day ends today'
- Sender address that uses cancer-council.com.au, cancer-council.org or any variation other than cancer.org.au
Not sure about your message?
Paste the suspicious Cancer Council text or email and get an instant scam verdict, free.
How to verify a message from Cancer Council
- Donate at cancer.org.au
- Call 13 11 20
Where to report a scam impersonating Cancer Council
Received — or fell for — a message impersonating Cancer Council? Report it. It helps authorities and carriers shut the campaign down for everyone who gets the next one.
- Scamwatch — Report the scam to the ACCC's national scam service.
- ReportCyber — Report cybercrime and financial loss to the police.
- ACMA — Report scam texts and spam SMS or calls.
- Forward to 7226 (SPAM) — Forward the scam SMS to short code 7226 so your carrier can block the source.
- IDCARE — Free identity and cyber support if your details were taken.
Frequently asked questions
I got a text asking for a Daffodil Day donation with a link — is it a scam?
Yes. Cancer Council does not send SMS donation requests. Delete the message and report it at scamwatch.gov.au.
How do I know if a Cancer Council email is real?
Check that the sender address ends exactly in @cancer.org.au and that any donation link points only to cancer.org.au. If in doubt, visit cancer.org.au yourself rather than clicking links.
Can Cancer Council contact me by SMS about Australia's Biggest Morning Tea?
No. All official campaign information is published on cancer.org.au or state Cancer Council websites. Any SMS claiming otherwise is a scam.
Related scam types
Scams impersonating Cancer Council usually fit one of these patterns. Learn how each works:
Related brands
Other charity names scammers impersonate — check a message from one:
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice — always verify with Cancer Council through an official channel.