Scam Charities

Augmerson

Saw a man in town today collecting for Animal Ark Ireland charity. He was wearing a hi-viz vest and had all the usual paraphernalia. I really didn't think a whole lot of it until I got home and during discussion with family we thought something was a miss (he was collecting near a main road by a traffic light crossing, not outside a shopping centre or busy main street).

After a look at this website - http://www.animalarkireland.ie/index.html, which looks like it was put together back in the days of Geocities and Angelfire, and some googling, we copped it. It's a scam. We called the Gardai who said if we saw them again to call them. They claim to be registered (on the website to MyCharity but the site has no record of them).

I think it's a really scummy thing to do as charities are having a hard enough time with donations with the economy and after all that happened with Rehab and CRC.

To people in the rest of the country, have you seen this group before or vague charities collecting?

Joeseph Balls

Yes, they came to the door a few months ago. Im in the midlands.

King George VI

That website is so bad it's funny.

Frog Song

They collect all over Ireland. None of the money they collect goes to charity. Do not give these people money! Aside from it being a horrible thing to do this could also put genuine animal rescues at risk because people won't know who's real and who's not. How they're still getting away with this baffles me, they've been reported to the Gardai numerous times yet they're still doing it.

Sky King

Is Animal Ark a scam?

No way to Noah.

Augmerson

Joeseph Balls wrote: »

Yes, they came to the door a few months ago. Im in the midlands.

Call the cops.

DEFTLEFTHAND

A Harley Davidson charity run of Route 66 is one I remember.

Beano

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

A Harley Davidson charity run of Route 66 is one I remember.

you need to clarify which one as there are several that are legit.

hfallada

SVP is the only charity that I would donate to. Or the capuchin day centre in Dublin city. They are transparent and actually help the most vulnerable in our society. Having visited the capuchin day centre in 4th year. The work they do is amazing. Without them, the homeless and less fortunate of Dublin city would literally starve.

I cant understand the peoples love of a certain dog charity. I visited their centre and the its was amazing. They had a load of nice company cars out front. I find it disturbing that there is dogs sleeping in an animal shelter better, than most of the homeless in Dublin city

the dark phantom

That website is hilarious.

Donkey Oaty

Augmerson wrote: »

Saw a man in town today collecting for Animal Ark Ireland charity.

Duffy-bashing aside, this is definitely one for "Talk to Joe", because it's clear cut and the airing of it will get him off the streets at least, although preferably prosecuted.

Whatever fine he gets - and this is a real opportunity for a Judge to send a message pour encourager les autres - should be sent to a real animal welfare charity or Brother Kevin's place.

Augmerson

the dark phantom wrote: »

That website is hilarious.

It's ****ing hilarious that they got hacked and didn't know how to fix it.

Kalman

I stopped giving to all of them. It's big business, there was a time[every six months] when I would receive a plastic bag through the letterbox looking for old leftovers; now I get three or four a week.

I go into the city, I'm confronted by a "Big Issue' seller , I dodged him only to run smack into the out-stretched arms of some guy who is touting for some strange named charity.
He does not want my cash, he wants me to call a mobile number and that the call will cost me 10 euros.
I don't want to, but, I have to be abrupt with him and walk on. I walk across and into the City Square to view this year's Xmas decorations and maybe take a photo. It's noon and as I reach there the clock chimes the hour and awakens one of the many bench residents who murmurs at me as I walk by>>' any loose change?

I eventually make it to the M&S store. Outside it's raining and huddled in the doorway stands a rather elderly uniformed lady collecting on behalf of the Salvation Army. The sight of her pricked my conscience and I feel that I have to give, which I do and at the sometime declining her offer of the 'War-Cry. The little shop where I once bought my cassettes is now a charity shop. The centre is full of charity shops.

fryup

Augmerson wrote: »

It's ****ing hilarious that they got hacked and didn't know how to fix it.

they should contact mckay software....(the link bottom left)

Fr_Dougal

Augmerson wrote: »

It's ****ing hilarious that they got hacked and didn't know how to fix it.

They didn't get hacked, people left negative comments on their site so they closed down part of it.

To be honest I was going to report your initial post as it seemed a bit off, but a quick Google threw up some interesting results. They've been removed from some animal welfare sites and have come to the attention of the Gardai before. They only have a scratch card permit yet still do bucket collections, which they do not have a license for.

I certainly wouldn't donate to them.

fryup

^^^^^

how the hell did they get a scratch card permit if they're not legit

J Madone

What's your thoughts on this one in Dalkey yesterday?
www.rainbowbridge.ie

Fr_Dougal

fryup wrote: »

^^^^^

how the hell did they get a scratch card permit if they're not legit

It's a gaming permit, lotteries. I searched for them on My Charity, 0 results. Also searched for them on the charity registration site, 0 results.

fryup

J Madone wrote: »

What's your thoughts on this one in Dalkey yesterday?
www.rainbowbridge.ie

bad website design for a start, don't know if thats an indication that its dodgy

J Madone

fryup wrote: »

bad website design for a start, don't know if thats an indication that its dodgy

You go on a waiting list for crutches and wheelchairs, funded by donations. No registration charity number.

Fr_Dougal

J Madone wrote: »

What's your thoughts on this one in Dalkey yesterday?
www.rainbowbridge.ie

It's a private limited company, registered in June, 3 directors, Latvian.

PizzamanIRL

Through the grapevine I know of 2 Travellers collecting for lung cancer prevention in kildare last week, whilst smoking fags. Used the money to buy more fags. Pure bogus.

Augmerson

Found another website related to Animal Ark Ireland -

http://animalarkireland.weebly.com

And there's an images section in it. Don't know who these people are.

http://animalarkireland.weebly.com/images.html

On that website they claim to have an office or shop at Elenfield Court on the Ninth Lock Road but there isn't any Elenfield Court. There is a Elmfield Industrial estate but google maps doesn't really cover it.

sand678

hfallada wrote: »

SVP is the only charity that I would donate to. Or the capuchin day centre in Dublin city. They are transparent and actually help the most vulnerable in our society. Having visited the capuchin day centre in 4th year. The work they do is amazing. Without them, the homeless and less fortunate of Dublin city would literally starve.

I cant understand the peoples love of a certain dog charity. I visited their centre and the its was amazing. They had a load of nice company cars out front. I find it disturbing that there is dogs sleeping in an animal shelter better, than most of the homeless in Dublin city

I will never again donate to these scum, I see the travellers in my town drive in to them in there big 14cars and get everything, I called to them with a very poorly neighbour whos wife is dying of cancer and all ill say is I will never donate to these pigs again. the way we were treated was horrendous and we received no help at all, not a god dam thing, disguisted with this charity

Lingua Franca

I recalled seeing something about Animal Ark being a scam on FB a while back. I have a fair few friends into animal charities and they were trying to get the page shut down, if I recall correctly. So I went to their page and went to "posts by page" and went down a few - there's a lot of people complaining about posts being removed and people being banned, and there's lots of pics (posted by the public) of their collectors looking teed off and worried whilst being questioned by the gards. It sounds like there's something terribly dodgy going on with this "charity".

Leilak

animal ark have a charity shop in clondalkin village the outside is disgusting with mouldy items for sale all over the pavement. they are there about three years = it looks really run down, I thought it was a registered charity l now have my doubts

Augmerson

There is an article from the Limerick Leader up here, interesting read -

http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/turf-war-between-animal-charities-going-down-legal-route-1-6254159

Limerick Leader wrote:

BITTER battle for public donations has broken out between two animal welfare charities resulting in solicitors and the gardai being drafted in.

The dispute arose after comments were posted on the Facebook site of Limerick Animal Welfare in relation to a member of the Dublin-based Animal Ark who was stationed on William Street in the city last Friday.

The Facebook post which was displayed on Friday reads: “Animal Ark in Limerick outside Dealz, William Street, again today. Their licence only allows them to sell scratch cards. This licence should not be used as a street permit to collect money from the public. They should not have a bucket or container to collect money.”

Over 45 comments have been posted on the site by various people in response to the original post and according to Animal Ark - who have defended their position saying they were selling scratch cards and were not collecting money at the time - the matter is now “going down the legal route”.

“At the moment we do have a lottery licence granted by the Dublin Metropolitan Court and the lottery licence grants us the right to sell scratch cards in any part of the country. They have a sealed bucket with them. They have a vest, they have a poster that shows who we have supported,” a member of Animal Ark told the Leader this week.


“I can’t comment too much on it because it is going through a legal process,” she said adding that specific comments have been reported to Facebook.

According to Marion Fitzgibbon, chairperson of Limerick Animal Welfare, the woman stationed on William Street on Friday had a collection box tied onto her arm and what she was doing was “really an abuse of the lottery licence.”

“They are using the lottery licence and turning it into a street collection permit,” she alleged.

“Street permits are absolutely difficult to get - we can only get two or three in the 12 months. We would have those collections boxes on counters in shops with a chain. There are other photographs of them standing at a table with collection boxes on the table. We have an older shot of a fella walking up and down outside Dealz rattling a white bucket.”

Ms Fitzgibbon said Limerick Animal Welfare - who have their headquarters in Kilfinane - “are absolutely tormented because Thursday, Friday and Saturday they can be on Limerick streets”.

“They can be on Cruises Street, William Street, outside Penneys and on Henry Street outside Dunnes - they can be on four locations sometimes. They are professional collectors they come in for the day. That woman was down from Dublin. We have our own file and we have the photographs. We do ring the gardai every time.”

The member of Animal Ark - who have a shop in Clondalkin in Dublin - said what they are doing is legal. She said that the money from the scratch tickets has to be inserted into a sealed bucket.

“It has to go into a sealed bucket. The guards are always informed. We are an open book. Anybody who has an issue with us we have invited them to the shop to meet us,” she said.

On their Facebook page, Limerick Animal Welfare state they have “no connection with Animal Ark and Limerick animals do not benefit from the money collected by Animal Ark”.

“We are totally in debt. Our mortgage is now gone to €580,000. We have to bring in between €40,000 and €45,00 a month to keep the sanctuary going,” Ms Fitzgibbon told the Leader.

Limerick Animal Welfare is a registered charity, founded in 1983, dedicated to caring for abandoned and neglected animals in the Limerick area. Over the last five years alone they say they have saved more than 2,000 animals.

The Animal Ark website states that it is registered with mycharity.ie.

“Animal Ark aims to sponsor various groups and organisations working for the health and safety of animals. Our aim is to promote and encourage people and companies to defend the rights of animals and help ensure that they are cared for and treated in a positive and responsible and loving manner,” the websites states.

Pumpkinseeds

They've been scamming people for ages. It's especially bad in Limerick as they try to give the impression that they're collecting for Limerick Animal Welfare. They're obviously making money or they wouldn't be at it. They seem to be operating all over the country. Absolute scum of the earth. Not to be confused with Arc animal rescue in Cobh, who are a legitimate rescue.

supersean1999

Iv heard of one. It takes in millions each year from the charity and kindness of us folk. Its called the GAA

Beano

supersean1999 wrote: »

Iv heard of one. It takes in millions each year from the charity and kindness of us folk. Its called the GAA

is the gaa a charity?

supersean1999

Beano wrote: »

is the gaa a charity?

Sorry scam charity

Beano

supersean1999 wrote: »

Sorry scam charity

you havent answered the question

supersean1999

Beano wrote: »

you havent answered the question

Haha and i dont intend you. Relax.

Beano

supersean1999 wrote: »

Haha and i dont intend you. Relax.

so in what way are they a scam?


oh,btw, they are not a charity

supersean1999

Beano wrote: »

so in what way are they a scam?


oh,btw, they are not a charity

There a scam because they take in millions without properly rewarding there players. There a charity because 1000s of people give there time and money with no financial reward. Now im.not in the mood to get all deep with you. If the gaa was audited its probably the most corrupt organisation in ireland thats my opinion of course.

Beano

supersean1999 wrote: »

There a scam because they take in millions without properly rewarding there players. There a charity because 1000s of people give there time and money with no financial reward. Now im.not in the mood to get all deep with you. If the gaa was audited its probably the most corrupt organisation in ireland thats my opinion of course.

uneducated nonsense. as i suspected

mikeym

This Animal Ark crowd seem to be everywere.

supersean1999

Beano wrote: »

uneducated nonsense. as i suspected

Easy to throw insults when someone replies to your needy requests. Now mind that nerve i hit.

Beano

supersean1999 wrote: »

Easy to throw insults when someone replies to your needy requests. Now mind that nerve i hit.

do you normally spout such nonsense?

Augmerson

mikeym wrote: »

This Animal Ark crowd seem to be everywere.

Did you see them collecting mike?

eviltwin

Has someone from AH been on the Ark website, if so they are after you

http://www.animalarkireland.ie/index.html

Benny_Cake

sand678 wrote: »

I will never again donate to these scum, I see the travellers in my town drive in to them in there big 14cars and get everything, I called to them with a very poorly neighbour whos wife is dying of cancer and all ill say is I will never donate to these pigs again. the way we were treated was horrendous and we received no help at all, not a god dam thing, disguisted with this charity

Sorry to hear that you had a bad experience with your local SVP, but there's no excuse for referring to volunteers who by and large are doing their best as "pigs" or "scum".

And yes, anyone collecting money under false pretences should be named, shamed and prosecuted.

Meathlass

@sand678 you can request assistance from another svp branch if you were not happy with your local one.

eviltwin

I never donate money to charity. I donate my time as a volunteer which is just as important. There is a huge amount of waste. I have my reservations about SVdP, yeah people who have money to spend on drink, fags etc get assistance and its hard to see that but these people are selfish and won't give up their vices to buy food for their kids. Often without SvdP the kids get nothing. That's how I justify it in my head anyway.

Benny_Cake

Meathlass wrote: »

@sand678 you can request assistance from another svp branch if you were not happy with your local one.

I'd be inclinded to follow it up with the regional office.

One thing that often comes up with the SVP, if someone needs assistance they are expected to make contact with the society themselves. It would be quite unusual for a conference to make contact with someone on the basis of a neighbour calling on their behalf, obviously a husband or wife would be treated differently.

Meathlass

eviltwin wrote: »

I never donate money to charity. I donate my time as a volunteer which is just as important. There is a huge amount of waste. I have my reservations about SVdP, yeah people who have money to spend on drink, fags etc get assistance and its hard to see that but these people are selfish and won't give up their vices to buy food for their kids. Often without SvdP the kids get nothing. That's how I justify it in my head anyway.

I'll admit that I see some of this through my volunteer work with SVP. I suppose it's important to note that we very rarely give cash, and never in a circumstance like this, it's always grocery vouchers or assistance with fuel bills etc. Often the weekly contact with someone is as valuable as what we bring.

Not everyone we help would be on social welfare either. There's a lot of 'middle class' families out there with no food on a Wednesday as the mortgage has taken everything. People would be genuinely surprised at the types of families we call to.

eviltwin

Meathlass wrote: »

I'll admit that I see some of this through my volunteer work with SVP. I suppose it's important to note that we very rarely give cash, and never in a circumstance like this, it's always grocery vouchers or assistance with fuel bills etc. Often the weekly contact with someone is as valuable as what we bring.

Not everyone we help would be on social welfare either. There's a lot of 'middle class' families out there with no food on a Wednesday as the mortgage has taken everything. People would be genuinely surprised at the types of families we call to.

Do SVDP give cigarettes to inmates in prison or was that just an urban myth?

Meathlass

Benny_Cake wrote: »

It would be quite unusual for a conference to make contact with someone on the basis of a neighbour calling on their behalf.

There are very good reasons why SVP likes the person themselves to make contact directly.

We got a call once from a 'concerned neighbour' to go see a woman as she was at the end of her tether and couldn't cope. We made discreet enquires and found out that the woman in question was fine and didn't want or need our assistance. It was a malicious call from a supposed friend to embarrass the woman as revenge over a squabble.

Meathlass

eviltwin wrote: »

Do SVDP give cigarettes to inmates in prison or was that just an urban myth?

Well I'm only with them 6 years and we don't have a prison in our area so I can't say categorically but I wouldn't believe it's happening. Can't guarantee it didn't happen 50 years ago though.

The supermarket vouchers we give can't be used to buy cigarettes or alcohol.

Zombienosh

whats really crappy about this, is the ripple effect that it will put people off donating to genuine charities.

RoyalMarine

I like their website, and the web master page... They seem.... similiar.....