[jaysay]

Originally Posted by AnnT

I am a local Volunteer Coordinator for Help for Heroes so I can only comment on how to check whether the Broadway 'Help for Heroes collectors' are legit and whether the charity is aware that a street collection is taking place. Individuals or groups who wish to collect monies on behalf of Help for Heroes should register with the charity, who will then issue them with a unique event ID number. The charity then has a record of the fundraiser’s contact details, date of event, collection etc. this enables any member of the public to check whether the fundraiser is genuine by telephoning and quoting the event ID number (I am sure that if these collectors are genuine then they will certainly not mind being asked for their Help for Heroes event ID).

Street collectors on Broadway must have a licence issued to them by the council licencing office and would have had to provide written evidence quoting details such as their H4H event ID to obtain one. However I am not sure if the council confirms the validity of the event with the individual charities concerned (anyone can forge a letterhead or copy an event ID). If this protocol is not observed then the fundraisers could be fraudulent and therefore it is a matter for the Police. It is only the vigilance of the public that exposes these fraudsters.


http://www.metro.co.uk/news/880886-help-for-heroes-charity-collectors-jailed-after-45-000-scam


http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/9588316.Man_arrested_over_alleged_Help_for_Heroes_ fraud/

Good informative post