A
male
age
51-59,
anonymous
writes:This is probably a silly question but my instincts tell me something is wrong with what is happening. My Aunt and cousin both collect for charity, my cousin proud in her uniform even though i cannot ever recall her being in the armed forces. Last year they both collect for the poppy appeal but i found it very suspicious that the money was counted in their own homes and that they still have the collection tins. My cousin does have a criminal record for theft and fraud and like i said i cannot ever remember her being involved in the armed forces but she wears a uniform when collecting. Regardless of the fact that they are family, stealing from charity, from people that died for is just low. How can i find out if they are being honest with their charity work
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (25 October 2015): The royal British Legion should be the people selling and collecting the money for poppies this time of year.You should go to their website and contact them and just ask how would you know if a seller is genuine and what can you do if they're frauds.It doesn't sound like the odds are in your family favour of them being genuine. I would have thought the collection tins should be returned, and wearing an army uniform but not being in the army and using that to collect money from people IS fraud. When they go collecting, and you know where they are going, ring the police (101 for non emergency in UK) and inform them anonymously that you believe there are people collecting fraudulently. They may have a neighbourhood officer who can go and check. But definitely check with the British Legion first, they may have a list of approved collectors.
A
female
reader, Honeypie  + ♥, writes (24 October 2015):
 I would ask your cousin what unit she was in, when and for how long. They could be doing fraud, it's not hard I have read about it people scamming (specially around Christmas) using fake Salvation Army tins to collect in. I can't imagine not knowing if a close family member served or not.
Do your Aunt and cousin have a badge/ID? for collections?
Do they have genuine pamphlets to hand out connected with the charity?
The fact that they KEEP the tins? Seems rather suspect as they are supposed to be kept sealed until turned in.
I found this link
http://www.frsb.org.uk/donors/advice/cash-collections/
CHECK WHETHER A COLLECTOR HAS AUTHORITY TO COLLECT
A permit or licence is usually required if raising money in a public place. Collections in private places like train stations, supermarkets and pubs need the owner’s or manager’s permission.
To check whether a fundraiser is authorised to collect money in a public place, contact your local authority or, if in London, the Metropolitan police. If it is a private place, check with the owner.
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And I know they are family, but if there is something fraudulent or hinky going on you OUGHT to report them.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT SOMETHING
If, after making these checks, you think there is a problem, you should report it.
If you think that a collection or appeal is not legitimate, you can report it to the police
if you think the collection is fraudulent you can do so by reporting it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or through their website at www.actionfraud.police.uk.
To report any concerns about charity collections to us, make a complaint.
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