October is Cyber Security Action Month in Australia. This year’s theme, “Take a second. Stay secure.”, is a timely reminder for anyone who gives online. Scammers often rely on speed and distraction, so taking a moment to pause before you click, share or pay can make all the difference.
Scams affect people of every age, but older Australians are particularly impacted. According to the National Anti-Scam Centre, Australians aged 65 and over make up about 17% of the population but accounted for more than a quarter of all losses reported to Scamwatch in 2025. As more of us bank, shop, stay connected and support the causes we care about online, a few simple checks can help keep your generosity safe.
Five ways to stay safer when donating online
1. Go directly to the charity
Received an unexpected email, text, phone call or social media message asking for a donation?
Instead of clicking the link, search for the charity yourself and visit its official website. Scamwatch.gov.au recommends approaching charities directly to make a donation and checking that the website address matches the one you searched for.
When supporting Mary MacKillop Today: Visit our official website to donate, rather than using a link from an unexpected third-party. If you come across any suspicious pages, links, or websites claiming to represent us, please let us know by emailing [email protected] and alert Scamwatch.gov.au to help protect others.
2. Stop and check before you give
Scammers often rely on impersonation, urgency and emotion to encourage people to act before checking whether a request is genuine.
Don’t let urgency override your instincts. Take a moment before donating, check the organisation’s name and details independently. If something feels off, trust that feeling and verify directly with the charity before giving.
You can also check whether an Australian charity is registered through the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Charity Register.
Mary MacKillop Today has previously covered these warning signs in our blog post: How to Spot a Charity Scam in Australia.
3. Know how your payment information is handled
Before entering your card details, look for information about how the organisation handles your personal and payment information. Refer to our Privacy Policy.
Mary MacKillop Today processes all payment transactions securely through Stripe, and we also maintain PCI-DSS compliance, the payment card industry’s security standard. This means your credit card details are masked i.e. we do not store or have access to your full credit card number. Additionally, we aim to protect your payment information through industry-standard security practices that meet regulatory requirements.
4. Protect your personal information
A genuine donation doesn’t mean you should hand over more information than necessary.
Never give banking details, passwords or other sensitive information to someone you don’t know or trust. Scamwatch.gov.au advises Australians to be cautious if someone unexpectedly asks for these details.
We take protecting supporter information seriously. Our Privacy Policy outlines the safeguards we’ve implemented, including encrypted databases, password protection, access controls and regular system audits. All team members receive privacy and data-breach training to ensure your trust is honoured.
“When someone donates to Mary MacKillop Today, they’re placing their trust in us,” says Francesca Cinelli, Fundraising and Marketing Director, and Data & Privacy Focal Point. “We approach data protection not as a compliance checkbox, but as a core responsibility. Every layer of security, from how we store information to how we train our team, exists to honour that trust.”
5. If something doesn’t feel right, stop
You don’t have to complete a donation because someone has asked you to.
Take a moment before handing over money or personal information, independently check that the organisation is genuine, and act quickly if you believe something has gone wrong.
If you think you’ve shared financial details with a scammer, contact your bank or card provider immediately. You can also report scams to Scamwatch.gov.au and, if the scam impersonates Mary MacKillop Today, contact us at [email protected].
Before you donate online, remember
Stop. Check. Protect. Then give with confidence.
Cyber Security Awareness Month is a useful reminder that a few simple habits can make a difference. By taking a moment to check before giving, Australians can continue supporting the causes that matter to them with greater confidence.
