Heads of prominent gemachim warned that several
swindlers have been using crooked means to cheat people out
of large sums of money.
An inquiry conducted by some of the leading gemachim
reveals that these charlatans claim to have been sent by a
gemach or tzedokoh organization to give out
money. They then hand over a large US check and ask the
recipient to give back the excess amount in cash. The
swindlers' success lies in the chareidi sector's high degree
of trust in people.
Another method they employ — again posing as
gemach and tzedokoh representatives — is
to simply ask for large contributions or deposits.
Gemach heads say that despite these acts of fraud the
public should not refrain from making deposits and
contributions, but should increase alertness and trust only
authorized representatives of the gemachim and
tzedokoh funds who present themselves in a seemly
manner.
The swindlers are very familiar with the chareidi public, its
way of life and the modes of operation typically employed by
tzedokoh and chessed organizations.
