There are scammers going around these days that approach people
on the streets and shopping malls trying to solicit donations in
the name of dubious charity organizations. Watch out and be
careful not to be scammed by them!
Firstly, check that they have a license to collect.
On the license, there must be the volunteer's name and
NRIC.
Secondly, they must either be wearing their NRIC or be willing
to show it upon request. If they say they "forgot" or
whatever, be careful. It is likely to be a scam.
Third, note down the "organization's" name, and contact
number (if u are really anal). There are a lot of a ah-kow and
ah-neow "charity" organizations popping up these days claiming to
solicit funding for some children's humanitarian relief fund
everywhere.
Finally, if you are in still doubt, just don't give. Or
ask that person to bring a colleague who has brought an NRIC along
and donate to him/her instead.
Remember, this is not about being ngeow. It is about
preventing cheats and liars from benefiting from the goodwill of
people in the name of "charity."
Be on the look out for one particular women who hangs around
Vivocity doing just this. She is about 1.6m tall, about 24-30
yrs old, Chinese and usually wears a pony-tail. She speaks
mandarin in a very heartland fashion, and can speak English as
well. Complexion is very slightly tanned. She operates
alone, and claims to be a volunteer collecting donations for
children's relief fund based somewhere in Telok Blangah.
When you ask her to show her license, she will just show you a
plastic hard folder that shows an "official-looking" letter stating
the purpose of the collection but NO NRIC details or collector's
details. When you ask her to show her NRIC, she will say she
forgot to bring it.
Note down what she is wearing, what bag she's carrying etc,
politely decline and inform the information counter or security
about it.
My friends and I had a run in with her once and exposed her.
She took off running like a bat out of hell and disappeared
towards the bus stop. So do watch out for her.
