Your Say

16/04/2008

Cardiff residents warned over charity scam

Cardiff residents have been warned against the activities of a charity scam operation which has recently been targeting residents in Whitchurch and Rhiwbina in the city.

Jonathan Evans MEP, who is the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Cardiff North, says a number of residents have contacted him about a company called Mantas Capital Ltd. which has been leafleting parts of North Cardiff.

“The leaflets imply that the operation will clothe poor people in disadvantaged parts of the world,” says Mr Evans.

“The scheme involves inviting people to leave out ladies’, men’s and children’s clothing, bedding, handbags, belts, bath and hand towels, underwear, cosmetics, perfumes, toiletries and toys. The company does not provide bags but invites the public to place all of these items into their own plastic bags and place them at the entrance of their homes for collection by this company.

“The reality is that the company is one of a group of such operations which have been putting these flyers through letterboxes all over Britain. The flyer gives the impression that the items are for charity but Trading Standards Officers elsewhere in Britain believe that the collections are organised by businesses, which then sell the clothes and other items for their own profit.

“Some local authorities elsewhere in Britain have issued warnings to residents against these activities and, as a result, it would appear that the companies have now moved elsewhere including, more recently, into Cardiff,” said Mr Evans.

“These activities are so widespread that an on-line petition has been launched on the Number 10 Downing Street website which has already attracted a huge response.

“I hope that Cardiff Trading Standards officers will arrange to issue their own warning concerning these deceptive practices.”

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