Poppy merchandise bought on Amazon or eBay may not be helping charity - how to check

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Amazon and eBay online traders have been found selling poppy merchandise, like Remembrance Day brooches and badges, with none of the proceeds going to charity.

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In the ‘customer questions and answers’ section of one Amazon vendor selling ‘Lest We Forget’ enamel poppy pins for £11.99, one customer asks how much of the sale goes to the Royal British Legion (RBL). The reply reads, “None, these are not in support of the charity.”

Poppy-themed items on eBay are also being sold, with no mention of proceeds going to charity. Stores on Etsy had a similar story, with many poppy-themed items (such as face coverings, pins and jewellery) being sold, with no mention of charity support.

The RBL said, “We will crack down on fraudsters who try to benefit from illegal counterfeit items.”

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Where to buy legitimate poppy merchandise

You can purchase genuine items online at the RBL official Poppy Shop.

There is a whole variety of items to choose from, including:

2020 Poppy Appeal Pin (£5)The Royal British Legion Thermal Bottle (£19.99)Striped Poppy RPET Tote Bag (£6.99)Lest We Forget Wrist Cuff (£19.99)Fallen Never Forgotten Signet Ring (£14.99)Poppy Print Reusable Face Covering (£6.99)Poppy Print Silk Bow Tie (£19.99)

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Alternatively, you can simply donate to the RBL via the Poppy Shop website. You can choose to give £10, £20, £50 or a custom amount.

Where does the money go?

When you buy items from the official Poppy Shop, all the purchases made help to fund the work of the RBL, providing support for the Armed Forces community.

The RBL is the country’s largest Armed Forces charity, with 235,000 members, 110,000 volunteers and a network of partners and charities.

“Our support starts after one day of service and continues through life, long after service is over,” the RBL explains.