Two arrested after homes get bogus charity leaflets (From Echo)

Two arrested after homes get bogus charity leaflets

1:02pm Friday 27th November 2009 in

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TWO men have been arrested after fraudsters blitzed homes in Thundersley and Benfleet with leaflets.

The pamphlets urged residents to put out unwanted clothes for collection by World UK Trading and claim the money will be going to the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

But World UK Trading, a genuine firm which donates up to £4,000 a month to the East Anglian Air Ambulance, had nothing to do with the leaflets and contacted police.

Police arrested the men, aged 19 and 22, in Thundersley Grove, Thundersley, on Monday. They live in Plaistow, East London, and were carrying leaflets and bags.

World UK Trading Company director Pauline Mason said: “I am so angry.

“Members of the public have contacted us and are upset somebody could do this and there is no money going to charity. It is just lining people’s pockets.”

The scam came to light after residents living in Waverley Road and Linden Road, Thundersley, contacted World UK Trading when bags of clothes put out in good faith were not collected.

One resident in Linden Road, who did not want to be named, said: “The leaflets looked very genuine. I checked for the VAT number and it had everything on it.

“It’s another clever trick. I’m glad they weren’t picked up, I wouldn’t want my old clothes to be making money for crooks.”

Essex police spokesman Bill Stock said: “Two men have been arrested in connection with a police investigation into bogus door-to-door charity collections alleged to be on behalf of an air ambulance charity.

“Police seized bags and leaflets asking for unwanted clothes on behalf of East Anglian Air Ambulance.”

The men, arrested on suspicion of going equipped to commit fraud, have been bailed until December 23.