Scammers using the Multiple Sclerosis Society's name are phoning people asking for donations and requesting bank account details.
Rotorua Multiple Sclerosis Society president Ian Braddon-Parsons said he received an email from the national office warning against the scam.
"It seems there is a bunch of scammers using the MS Society name to con people into giving them their credit card numbers and bank account details to steal money."
He said if called, people should take down the scammer's details and forward them to police and the society.
"We would not ring people for funds and the sooner we can get the word out the better."
"It has come to my attention that telephone calls are being made to members of the public asking for donations to MS."
She stated the organisation did not telephone people to raise funds and it was a "blatant scam".
Mrs Gallagher could not be contacted for further comment yesterday but the scam prompted a warning from Rotorua MP Todd McClay, who was appointed patron of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Rotorua three years ago.
He is calling on the public to be cautious when asked for credit card or bank details over the phone.
"The society does a very important job in our community and it receives a lot of support from its volunteers and the public," Mr McClay said.
"It is extremely disappointing to hear people would use the society's name in order to steal from the public."
Mr McClay said that anyone who believed they might have been a victim of this fraud should contact their bank or credit card issuer and the police.
Multiple Sclerosis is a neurological disease which affects the nerve cells in the brain which communicate with the spinal cord.
