Police & Soldiers Charity Fund

[London Boy]

Has anyone been approached on Soi 88 by two very officious looking guy’s to give some money to the “Police & Soldiers Fund” or is it just another scam

[JimmyGreaves]

Scam

[icebear]

Never give money to anybody moving up and down your soi. IMHO.

This two powerful groups do not work together. Just check who's the boss of the police!

[STEVE G]

There is a charity that sometimes goes around collecting for a benevolent fund for members of the police and armed forces that have been killed or disabled in the ongoing conflict in the South of Thailand but obviously I've no idea whether the people collecting in your soi are a part of that.

[Nereus]

There were a couple of well dressed blokes accosted me last week in Soi 6. They had a book with photos of various uniformed bods in it that they showed me. Very insistent until they realised I was not going to give them anything. It is not the first time that I have had this happen.

[littlebird]

They are a scam. My usual approach is to watch if they approach Thais, if not its probably because the locals know they are not genuine. I use the approach with all people asking for money

[dtaai-maai]

They are a scam.

Yes, I know. A littlebird told me...

[London Boy]

Steve G :There is a charity that sometimes goes around collecting for a benevolent fund for members of the police and armed forces that have been killed or disabled in the ongoing conflict in the South of Thailand but obviously I've no idea whether the people collecting in your soi are a part of that.

Hi SG Thats who they said they were

[JuiceLover]

i had these guys knocking on my door in September in Baan Chutikran. Arriving in a nice car, well dressed, serious looking, carrying a framed, stamped diploma wrapped in seethrough plastic and a couple of laminated A4-documents. Not knowing the purpose of their visit, they looking 'official' in some way I let them in on the porch. They explained the matter referring to the bomb victims down south, showed me a magazine with their photos and pics of victims in wheelchairs. Also showing me receipts of donations varying from 10,000-15,000 Baht. When hesitating they made it very clear that even small donations are very welcome.
When asking for a donation bank account, they did'nt have any so I say I'll look for some cash inside. Doing this I also called my neighbour expat who's been living in the area for many years. Telling him about my visitors he told me to tell them in a polite wa of course, to go f**k themselfs. Back on the porch they had in the meantime, put a cardboard box on the table and through the halfopen lid I could see the head of a King Rama V statue, neatly wrapped in plastic.
Now it was easy to make up my mind. When telling them thank you but no thanks one of the guys asks me if I called someone from inside the house and when he got yes for an answer they quickly got their things together and vanished.

- - - - -

[dtaai-maai]

If anybody asks me for money for any reason, I am happy to smile and become the stereotype stupid farang who hasn't a clue and get Mrs D-M to send them packing politely.

The worst 'fundraisers' are the vultures in paramedic overalls - I'm quite happy to give them a flea in their ear myself in any language.

[Lung Per]

It's that time of the year again. They seem to pop up every year around the start of the farang season.

[johnnyk]

They got me about 3 years ago. Came to my house and my thought was "always keep on the good side of the plod" so I donated thinking also that mysterious things could happen if I didn't. They had the book with the pics etc. Next time I would simply say "mai mee baht kap".
I still have the nice shiny green buddha they gave me in recognition of my generosity and compassion. The XTGF told me it costs about 50 baht at the market.

[macklinvinger]

CharityWatch offers ratings on the following organizations in its Charity Rating Guide. CharityWatch considers a group’s willingness to provide basic documents to serious donors as an important factor in one’s giving decision.

[Arcadian]

i posted a similar thread some time ago which nobody picked up on. They knocked on my door, mentioned Musselmen, they had shiny shoes so obviously police, my Muslim son-in-law had just left for home and I thought they were checking on him. I got a receipt for my 200 baht contribution together with a tacky small statue. My Thai heighbour had given them 2000 baht so they got a much bigger tacky statue.