SCAM ARTISTS POSING as representatives of charity Pieta House have been collecting door-to-door in the Dublin area.
The people in question have been running the scam since last year.
Most incidents that have been reported have been in the greater Dublin area although certain incidents have taken place in surrounding counties.
Pieta House is a centre for the prevention of self-harm or suicide which has been operating from its base in Lucan, Co Dublin for almost ten years.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie Marie Peelo, fundraising co-ordinator with the charity, said that they are concerned that “vulnerable people are being targeted” by the con artists.
“What is happening is that these people are calling to doors and they have a card with them that has Pieta House on it,” she said.
We want to make it clear that we do not go door-to-door when collecting, we don’t allow that at all.
Whatever money these people are collecting isn’t ending up with Pieta House.
While the various incidents that the charity has been made aware of have been reported to the gardaí TheJournal.ie understands that none of the people in question have yet been apprehended.
“It seems to be happening in different areas,” says Peelo.
The odd time we have gotten a second report of such activity from the same area twice, but only rarely.
Vigilant
We would urge people to be vigilant – our concern is for supporters of Pieta House being taken in by callers to their door, and that vulnerable people are being abused.
“We want people to be mindful of their own safety as well,” she said, adding that such behaviour is affecting other charities, not just Pieta House.
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