Fraudulent websites selling fake poppy merchandise, warns Royal Canadian Legion
Posted November 10, 2021 5:03 pm.
Last Updated November 11, 2021 9:58 am.
The Royal Canadian Legion is sending out a warning to Canadians not to buy poppy merchandise from fraudulent overseas websites.
Nujma Bond, the communications manager at the Royal Canadian Legion, tells CityNews they have been alerted to more than 500 fraudulent sites.
Bond says these fraudulent poppy merchandise websites are located mainly overseas, but some do exist in the U.S. and Canada. She says they mostly appear through ads online.
“We see this sort of proliferation of fraudulent sites and merchandise that is not approved or sanctioned by the Royal Canadian Legion every time Remembrance Day rolls around,” said Bond.
“It’s really difficult once these sites are out there, the ads are out there, to track them down and shut them down because it’s hard to know who is behind them.”
Bond says the people selling these items are most likely pocketing the money for themselves.
This year marks the centennial of the poppy – a symbol of remembrance in Canada honouring those who sacrificed their lives for freedom.
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Ronn Anderson, chairman of the Poppy Trust Fund, says those who are selling unauthorized poppies and poppy merchandise are stealing from veterans.
“All of the poppy funds that we collect through the legion go into a trust fund at each branch and can only be used in support of veterans and veterans’ dependence,” said Anderson.
He says not only is selling unauthorized poppies disrespectful, but illegal.
“The poppy is patented by the Royal Canadian Legion for the very use that it is in support of the veterans,” said Anderson.
“It’s outrageous that people would think they could make something out of that and pretend that they are supporting that.”
Every year, Canadians donate an average of $20 million to the Poppy Campaign. The money is used towards programs and supports for veterans, including adequate housing, medical care and physical care.
