Group Of Singhs Doing Collections (Help!)

[laala gola]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Lately, I've been getting visits from a group of Singhs..varying from 2 to about 4. They are usually in proper Baana and flowing beard. Middle aged to quite old (bazurg).

Look like they've come from India and they have presented themselves on my doorstep asking for mney for a charity they are working with in India. APparently they've come quite a few times and my dad has invited them in, and they always ask for money for some project involving charity..like building an old people's home back in India.

Its not always the same Singhs..different group comes after about a week or 2..sometimes more frequently. They all have some laminated card with a photograph of them with some building being developed in the background.

We are Gursikhs and dont like turning away anybody so my dad has given them money each time..but its getting a bit much as they are coming back quite very frequently..Has anybody else had any similar experiences?

SUrely this isn't the right way to go about doing a collection even if its for a good cause? I feel they probably dont go into a Gurdowara as they may be from a certain sect?..like believers of Baba Siri Chand?

Just want some help on how to go about this..

[proactive]

Avoid them like the plague! They are con men. I was approached by one in the supermarket and he also showed me some ID card and some photos. He said he was collecting for Pingalwara. Having had relatives visit Pingalwara, I know for a fact that they actively tell you not to give any money to people claiming to be collecting on their behalf. They advise the best way to help is to go direct to Amritsar and donate there. They have some people who collect for them in some main Gurdwaras but no one who goes around in the streets or knocks on doors collecting for them. The guy who approached me was also wearing a dastar and full dahra. When I told him that Pingalwara themselves say don't give money to people like him, he legged it out. I suggest that if they come around again, tell them what I said (you can confirm this by ringing Pingalwara themselves) and say that you will call the police to check their ID and they will run a mile.

These people are the lowest of the low, they work on the respect that UK Sikhs have in the seeing a Singh in Bana as well as their desire to help out people in need. These thugs are just an extension of those crooks you get in India who go around the villages in Punjab and get money from villagers for such things as orphanages or old people's homes. Don't feel bad that you have been hoodwinked out of money, it can happen to anyone. They keep coming around because they have a network which shares details of people who have donated to them so that other thugs like them can also go and ask for money.

There was a story of a similar scam these lowlifes indulged in which brings Sikhi into disrepute.

http://www.hounslowchronicle.co.uk/west-london-news/local-hounslow-news/2011/08/01/prayer-pair-barge-in-and-demand-money-109642-29142542/

[laala gola]

Avoid them like the plague! They are con men. I was approached by one in the supermarket and he also showed me some ID card and some photos. He said he was collecting for Pingalwara. Having had relatives visit Pingalwara, I know for a fact that they actively tell you not to give any money to people claiming to be collecting on their behalf. They advise the best way to help is to go direct to Amritsar and donate there. They have some people who collect for them in some main Gurdwaras but no one who goes around in the streets or knocks on doors collecting for them. The guy who approached me was also wearing a dastar and full dahra. When I told him that Pingalwara themselves say don't give money to people like him, he legged it out. I suggest that if they come around again, tell them what I said (you can confirm this by ringing Pingalwara themselves) and say that you will call the police to check their ID and they will run a mile.

These people are the lowest of the low, they work on the respect that UK Sikhs have in the seeing a Singh in Bana as well as their desire to help out people in need. These thugs are just an extension of those crooks you get in India who go around the villages in Punjab and get money from villagers for such things as orphanages or old people's homes. Don't feel bad that you have been hoodwinked out of money, it can happen to anyone. They keep coming around because they have a network which shares details of people who have donated to them so that other thugs like them can also go and ask for money.

There was a story of a similar scam these lowlifes indulged in which brings Sikhi into disrepute.

http://www.hounslowc...09642-29142542/

WJKK WJKF

Hey, thanks very much for the info! Very helpful indeed!

The same thing happened to us..I wasn't home that time but I heard 2 of them came inside and started doing Ardas that we were donating a certain amount. As they had already started it, and my dad being religious, honoured it and gave them the money, but I was later annoyed at him for doing so.

These guys are using a persons religious devotion to get away with stuff that would be classed as 'Beadbi'.

I just wasn't sure just in case they really were on behalf of some charity..but if you are positive that pingalwara doesn't send people like these guys to ask on doorsteps, then its wrong.

[ParwinderSingh]

nno one should be going around door to door collecting money, if they are genuine, then send them to your local gurdwara who can then decide to appeal on their behalf.

9 times out of 10 these ppl are cons. all i can suggest is, keep a base ball bat behind your door ..... if you dont do anything then they might end up pushing ther way into a little old ladys home, or your sisters, or your daughter.... wake up singhs!

[SarabhaPanjab]

trust me man.. avoid.. do not dialogue, do not get persuaded into conversations, future predictions etc.

Ask for the charities address and telephone number in india.

[Wicked Warrior]

send them to your local gurdwara who can then decide to appeal on their behalf

+1. A Gurdwara is far more effective at raising cash than door-to-door.

There's one round my part of B'ham doing the same. Opened the door first time because I thought they might be friends of the family but when I realised he wanted cash, I just closed the door. He's been round twice since but we've just not bothered answering.