Bedford-based child and family support charity FACES is asking the public to be vigilant against fraudsters after a group of youths pretending to be working on behalf of the organisation approached passersby for donations in Northampton.
A member of the public contacted the FACES office to complain that her daughter had been harassed by the youths – who wore t shirts captioned with the word FACES and provided receipts with the charity’s contact details – which alerted staff to the scam.
FACES CEO Michaela Martindale said “Obviously we were dismayed to hear about this incident. We rely on the generosity of the public and organisations to help to support our work and to hear of that goodwill being exploited, especially during this cost of living crisis, is horrifying.
“We are asking people to be cautious when approached directly by any charity, whether that is over the phone, on email or in public. FACES does not collect money on the streets but if we did, we would provide ID badges. If anyone has any suspicions regarding someone claiming to be a FACES representative, they can contact us directly on 01234 270601 or call the police on 101.”
Police were told of the scam and opened an investigation but have so far not identified the persons carrying out the fraud.
FACES recently celebrated 10 years of providing practical and emotional support to families under stress. This stress may come in the form of mental or physical health problems, domestic abuse, poverty, child exploitation or behavioural issues. FACES helps families to provide a happier and healthier home for children through quality-tested initiatives such as support groups and home one-to-one visits.
The charity welcomes enquiries from anyone who might be able to offer their time as a volunteer or from families who may need access to its services. Visit facesbedford.org for more information.
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