A former volunteer of one of the Moscow charitable foundations earned an average of 8,000 rubles a day selling balloons. However, the children with cancer, for whom this money was collected, did not reach them. The heads of charitable foundations and lawyers talked about how to check the integrity of those asking for donations and not fall for manipulation, and also why fundraising on the streets is just a business that has nothing to do with bona fide organizations.

“In shopping centers, on the streets and in electric trains, they cheat everywhere”

Several years ago, Denis Nefedov (name changed at the request of the interlocutor) got a job as a volunteer in an organization collaborating with a well-known charitable foundation.

“I was 15 and I wanted to work. Approached on the street to the girl who sells balls. She took me to the management and helped to get settled. I was assured that all the money would indeed go to the children. But it wasn’t like that,” he recalls.

On the first trial day, Denis was given a plan to sell 40 balloons and collect 4,000 rubles in donations. Each cost 100 rubles, but usually they asked “how much you don’t mind”, and the money had to be thrown into the “box of good”. On the first day, Nefyodov sold 4,500 balloons and passed the “trial period”. He was taken to work on a permanent basis, naturally, without the conclusion of any official employment contract. The volunteer's salary was 25% of sales, and all employees were between 15 and 18 years old.

“Initially, the charitable foundation on behalf of which we worked really received some pennies - no more than 3% of sales. But it didn't last long. At some point, they simply stopped sending money,” says Denis.

The charitable foundation, of course, reacted to this. The contract with the organization was terminated, but the volunteers continued to raise money to help sick children. And half of the income from the "boxes" was also taken away for themselves. As Nefedov recalls, older “colleagues” showed him a way to do this, and assured him that there was nothing wrong with that - after all, the money still goes to non-sick children.

The scheme turned out to be simple: the boxes hung on metal wires wrapped in foil so as not to scratch the skin. The ends of the wire hung loosely from the neck. They could easily get money out of the box.

In this way, Denis earned at least 5 thousand rubles a day, not counting the official "salary". Compassionate citizens were generous - they often gave both 500 and 1000 rubles.

“The main thing is to make a “nice” face and say as compassionately as possible: “Take part in a charity event, help a child with cancer to save his life,” says Nefedov.

A lot of children worked, they collected donations in shopping centers, on the streets and in public transport. By the way, they sold anything - bracelets, balls and other cheap souvenirs that cost a penny. And branches of such organizations are located throughout Moscow to this day.

Back to news How to understand that scammers are working Elena Smirnova, director of the Sozidanie Charitable Foundation, notes that scammers often use the names of large funds to raise funds. But not a single charitable foundation “walks with boxes” and collects money, she assures. According to Elena, some benefactors do send their volunteers to crowded places, not to raise funds, but to spread information about the foundation. All other stories are pure scams.

This is also confirmed by Maria Klimashkina, director of the Plus Help Children Foundation. In her opinion, it is very important not to call begging funds or charity, even if a registered legal entity is in the hands of charlatans.

“In order to separate themselves from such bangle sellers, several years ago, the foundations agreed not to raise funds on the streets at all. Only through the official websites of charitable organizations,” she points out.

In addition, those who want to make money by substituting a charitable collection can not only use boxes, but also create websites, social media accounts, and even promote themselves through advertising. Therefore, the situation requires additional care and responsibility from those who want to help, states Maria.

Chelyabinsk Ombudsman Yevgenia Mayorova, who has helped children with cancer at the Iskorka Foundation for 15 years, adds that if fundraisers say or post signs on the website that read: “If you don’t help , the baby will die" or "Only one day left", these people are definitely scammers.

“Honest funds will never injure the psyche, force them to make decisions in a short time and put pressure on feelings of guilt. All this is manipulation,” says the expert.According to Mayorova, most often scammers choose to collect the stories of sick children, because, firstly, they cause more pity because of their defenselessness, and, secondly, they are much more familiar to the people thanks to many years of work of foundations and mass information about such situations.

“The big trouble is that it is easier for people to give 10 rubles to such collectors so that they are left behind than to react. But these 10 rubles add up, and the scammers get millions as a result. Millions that people have earned on other people's troubles, ”emphasizes Elena Smirnova.

Back to news Almost always, these people do not answer any questions, do not provide contacts for charitable foundations, and try to disappear into the crowd as soon as possible. Conscientious funds, according to her, always work openly, they have contacts and websites, reports, as well as information about current, future and past promotions.

Yevgenia Mayorova also recommends checking where exactly the fund is located, and, if possible, coming to the place and getting to know the people who work there. In addition to studying the documents, you also need to pay attention to the name of the funds, she assures. By creating duplicate sites, scammers often take advantage of people's inattention. And you can expose them by noticing even one extra letter in the name of the site.

“It is important not to transfer charitable funds to the accounts of individuals, the foundation must be a legal entity,” she reminds.

Also, the foundation should always have a charter, which will define the target group and work programs. For example, the program "drugs", "rehabilitation", "psychological assistance" or "accompaniment".

As Maria Klimashkina assures, if a foundation volunteer talks about their activities and offers to subscribe for a monthly donation through the website, this is a good sign. But cash is better left for personal needs. According to her, any good charitable organization accepts donations only to the official settlement account and through payment systems.

And in order to accurately invest your money in a really useful cause, it is better not only to “follow the movement of the heart”, but also try to choose one social problem close to you and find an organization that is trying to solve it, and not only helps specific children, adults or animals.

“The same 100 rubles of yours can help a different number of children. If you support a program that is done by real professionals - doctors, rehabilitation specialists, social workers, teachers - several beneficiaries will benefit at once, ”Maria notes and adds that, by law,

80% of the funds raised by any charitable foundation should go specifically to aid programs. And no more than 20% - for the expenses of a charitable organization.

How to hold false funds accountable

According to civil, administrative and arbitration lawyer Vasily Vorobyov, the first thing to do if a fund is suspected of bad faith is to contact law enforcement agencies or file a lawsuit in order to bring managers to justice. criminal liability for fraud.

Another question is if, for example, in a shopping center you saw a donation box even without the control of a volunteer. You can't ask the box who put it there, so you can't hold it accountable either.

It's also difficult to prosecute street vendors. According to the lawyer, according to his experience as a police officer, such false philanthropists are usually, if they are detained, then they are simply interrogated and released without opening a criminal case.

This is because, explains Abeli ​​Shengelia, General Director of Locard law firm, that in most cases criminals are properly trained and organized, they present to local law enforcement agencies during an on-site inspection all the necessary primary documents, which the police will properly check only with repeated reports of fraud.

“If there is a suspicion that signs of a false charity fund are observed in advertising and social networks, it is also necessary to contact the internal affairs bodies, the prosecutor’s office and write a complaint in the feedback of the Internet resource that hosts fraudulent content,” the expert adds.

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