WIT News

Public urged to beware of bogus fundraiser Posted: Thu, December 20, 2007

A research group at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) and the Health Services Executive (HSE) have warned the public not to be duped by a bogus fund-raiser who is contacting people by phone and urging them to buy raffle tickets to help fight blindness.

The Macular Pigment Research Group at WIT has been informed that a man has been 'cold calling' members of the public, urging them to buy tickets to help fund ongoing research at the college into failing eyesight. The man has told callers he is fund-raising on behalf of WIT and the HSE. At least one woman has already bought tickets from the bogus collector.

Researchers involved with the WIT group say they have never fund-raised in such a manner and urged anyone contacted or approached by this man or others to contact the gardai immediately.

"We have never, nor would we ever, fundraise in such a manner," a spokesperson for the Macular Pigment Research Group said. "We do raise funds through our registered charity, the Waterford Ophthalmic Research Fund. We are not fundraising through a raffle. Neither have we authorised anyone to raise funds for us by such a means," the spokesperson
added.

The HSE also confirmed that nobody within its organisation has been fund-raising for the group in such a manner and also urged caution.

A spokesperson at Waterford Garda Station said anyone contacted by this individual should ring the gardai immediately on (051) 305 300.