Volunteers put hammer to nail at a Habitat for Humanity construction site in Detroit. The renowned charity is having its name used by scammers. (Carlos Osorio/Associated Press)

The respected international organization Habitat for Humanity is having its name and reputation exploited by con artists recruiting people to do fundraising.

An email is circulating across North America asks would-be recruits to collect money from donors.

"Private donations will be made in your name from our esteemed voluntary donors in your region and other parts of the world, and you'll be allowed to deduct 10 per cent," states the letter.

'It's not a format of salary or recruitment that we use.'—Kate Marshall, Habitat for Humanity

But it isn't coming from Habitat for Humanity.

"It's not a format of salary or recruitment that we use, and we're very sorry that it's floating around out there with our name on it," Habitat for Humanity Canada spokesperson Kate Marshall told CBC News.

"It's very disappointing because obviously we're a name that people know well and trust," she said.

Habitat for Humanity is a global organization that helps pull people out of poverty by building and providing affordable homes.

Marshall said the letter first emerged in the U.S. in March and began circulating in Canada two months later.

"We got a whole bunch of people emailing our office back in May, it was bouncing around," she said.

Habitat for Humanity has placed a scam alert on its website so potential donors send their contributions to the legitimate charity and not the fraudsters.

"We've responded internally and tried to let people know that this nothing at all that is supported by Habitat For Humanity Canada," she said.

She said it's unfortunate there's not much more the organization can do other than warn people.