Muslims warned of bogus charities

Trading Standards officers in Leicester have warned residents to beware of bogus charity collectors targeting the city's Muslim community.

Leaflets, printed in English and Urdu, have been distributed giving the impression items are being collected for charitable purposes.

Checks with the Charity Commission have revealed the organisations are not registered charities, the council said.

People are urged only to donate unwanted goods to charities they know.

Musharrof Ali, of Leicester City Council's trading standards service, said: "Our investigations reveal that these organisations are out to make money.

"However, their leaflets do not make it clear that they are commercial businesses. I believe the leaflets are designed and marketed to mislead and deceive the public.

"I urge the community not to leave out any goods for collection in response to these leaflets. Our inquiries are continuing into the people running these organisations."

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