Fake doorstep charity muggers??

[Morrisette]

Anyone else had any experience like this?

Last night a network of people were knocking on doors around Newmarket claiming to be from The Children's Society and pressurising householders to sign up to direct debits. I don't think they were genuine however - it seemed quite unprofessional, and I was suspicious.

I wasn't shown any photo ID. The young woman who knocked on my door was wearing a rain-coat with the Children's Society logo on it but had no identification. In addition she did not describe really who the Society are - no mention was made of the connection with the Church of England for example, and she described 10-year old girls sleeping with strangers as 'a bit harsh'. She also told me that my 'next door neighbour' had just agreed to donate 16 pounds per month - an odd amount, as well as being a lie as there was no one in next door.

My biggest concern is that while I was talking to her, another of the group went down the alleyway between the two houses opposite mine. There would be no reason to go round the back of the houses - no lights were on in either of the adjacent properties, so it was obvious that no one was at home - to be honest it had the look of a 'scoping out' operation to look for open doors with a view to burglary. There have been fake charity collectors around the Newmarket area recently.

In any case I think this is not a good way to collect donations - being doorstepped and then asked 'why don't you want to help children?' if you decline to give your bank details and home address to a random doorstep caller is not the best way to increase support. I could see anyone vulnerable/an old lady or something being pressured by this style of campaign, and to be honest being guilt-tripped on my doorstep makes me less inclined to donate.

I have email the Children's Society to ask them if they had a campaign in the area last night - you reckon the police are worth a call?

 

[hulver]

I've had similar a couple of times in Sheffield. One was for WWF, the other for something else. These did have laminated badges as well, which they were happy to show. Could just be decent fakes though.

Very dodgy. Try to get you to sign up a direct debit on the doorstop, won't leave any information behind so you can read it through. All talk about how "your neighbours" are supporting it.

I tell them to go away, but they are very persistent. It's quite damaging to the charities I think. There's no way I'd sign up on the door stop to some third party collecting company.

 

[Arch]

I have email the Children's Society to ask them if they had a campaign in the area last night - you reckon the police are worth a call?

Yes. Not 999, but call the local number I reckon. It certainly sounds dodgy - the girl could have got that raincoat anywhere. And the guy heading off down the back alley sounds iffy too...

Did you ask for ID, or was it just not offered? I think any genuine collectors would understand the need to show it unasked, or at least wear it prominantly.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

+1

Yes. Not 999, but call the local number I reckon. It certainly sounds dodgy - the girl could have got that raincoat anywhere. And the guy heading off down the back alley sounds iffy too...

Did you ask for ID, or was it just not offered? I think any genuine collectors would understand the need to show it unasked, or at least wear it prominantly.

 

[bonj2]

the police'll do bugger all. But try them.

 

[Black Sheep]

I've had similar a couple of times in Sheffield. One was for WWF, the other for something else. These did have laminated badges as well, which they were happy to show. Could just be decent fakes though.

Very dodgy. Try to get you to sign up a direct debit on the doorstop, won't leave any information behind so you can read it through. All talk about how "your neighbours" are supporting it.

I tell them to go away, but they are very persistent. It's quite damaging to the charities I think. There's no way I'd sign up on the door stop to some third party collecting company.

i've had people come to the door for things to do with dogs,
showed ID, knew heck of a lot about what they were collecting for and never mentioned next door - bit unprofessional etc to say how much your neighbour has contributed

 

[goo_mason]

Had one a couple of years ago for a well-known children's charity. I was going to sign up, but he wouldn't let me take the forms and fill them in / send them in myself at a later date. He wanted me to sign there and then on the doorstep, and wanted my bank account number and sort code.

When I told him that I wouldn't hand out banking info to any old stranger on the doorstep, regardless of whether they could show me ID, he got very uppity with me. Yet he still wouldn't just give me the forms to fill in and post myself. Very suspicious.

He was sent off with a flea in his ear and a door slammed in his face.

 

[Morrisette]

Hmm yes I think I might try the 'report a crime by email' thing, as they never answer the phone...I might wait and see if the Charity reply to my email first - it's not like the police will do anything other than note it down.

I'm quite surprised that any charities actually do this as a fundraising thing anyway, it does get a lot of people's backs up. And giving your bank account details to someone who rocks up on the doorstep at night, is something I'm never going to do.

Thanks for the advice all!

 

[very-near]

Chuggers get anything between £50 and £100 for signing you up. The charity only start to benefit after you have donated the sum which covers their signing fee.

I always thought that Children's charities are a bit of a non starter given it is social services who pick up the pieces when abuse or neglect is reported.

 

[Brains]

A few years ago my father-in-law rented out an office to a company of phone chuggers, they paid the deposit and 3 months up front, equipped the entire office with furnature etc and then for the next 9 months or so ran what must have been a very profitable phone based charity collection service.

Then one day, without warning, they simply upped and left.

Rent was fully paid up 3 months in advance, so he not only kept the deposit and rent he also got all the carpets, furnature, a new kitchen, a phone syste, filing cabinets, etc. They only took all their paperwork and computers. He was able to flog off some of the stuff and still rent out the office a few weeks later as a fully operational office.

However it goes to show how much money these people must be making if they can afford to abandon tens of thousands worth of new office equipment and rent.

 

[ufkacbln]

Its not just this con either...

Do you ever respond to the "clothing collections"?