| Submit your comments on this article |
| Arabia |
| Ramadan Scam: Bogus Beggars |
| 2005-10-25 |
| Bogus Beggars Bog Down as Jeddawis Get Wise to Con Artists JEDDAH, 25 October 2005 â Thereâs one group of people who arenât enjoying Ramadan as much as theyâd like to in the Kingdom, namely the con artists whose attempts to take advantage of the holy monthâs spirit have been frustrated by an awareness campaign and media reports that are making the public wise of their scams, sob stories and pretend injuries. âWe created this problem indirectly,â said an official with Madinahâs Anti-Beggary Department. âItâs because of the peopleâs generosity that these gangs are encouraged to come and take the money donated for charitable purposes away from those in need.â He said the beggars often operate in gangs and sneak into the country on Umrah visas with the intention of bilking kindhearted people. It used to be a lucrative business. âItâs because of the peopleâs generosity that these beggars are rich,â the official said. âMany times, we arrest beggars with large amounts of money. Some have had as much as SR400,000.â He said the Anti-Beggary Department is doing some begging of its own. âWe are begging people to direct their money to charity organizations to ensure the safe direction of money to those in need.â The official said an informed public is more effective than any number of raids. âI can say that the Anti-Beggary Departmentâs mission is successful this season,â he said, ânot in terms of arresting large numbers of them, but by increasing the awareness among residents that these are not people in need.â The media has played an important role in getting the word out on the con artists through articles that expose their scams. So have the mosques, whose imams have warned those in attendance to be wary of the beggarsâ sob stories. âThe mosque has played its role by highlighting the issue and exposing them in Friday sermons,â said Sheikh Omar Khatri, imam of Jeddahâs Tawheed Mosque. âWeâve prevented them from begging inside the mosque,â the imam said. âThey have no right to beg inside the mosque. If they are in need of money, then they have to go to the proper authorities to get help.â Khatri said itâs making a difference. âI see it working,â he said. âNow people are aware more than ever that these beggars are nothing but organized gangs. I urged all imams in the neighborhood to do the same. It is time to fight back before they destroy our innocence and our desire to donate the money to help others.â Some of the beggars who have targeted Jeddah soon may have to pick a new target â or give up beggary altogether. âPersonally, I stopped donating money to them,â said Turki Al-Mutairi, who works for a private company. âWhen they start begging I give them the advice to stop what theyâre doing.â Al-Mutairi would like the Bride of the Red Sea to say bye-bye to the beggars. âPolice should get involved for a change,â Al-Mutairi said. âThey should start arresting beggars and deport them the day after they get arrested. The money confiscated from these beggars should go to the Anti-Beggary Department to buy more patrol cars or be directed to real charity activities.â Heh. |
| Posted by:.com |