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WARNING - Colin Mason.
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Headteacher’s warning over fundraiser con
Jeni Harvey23/11/2006
TEENAGERS have been attempting to con money out of unsuspecting residents through a fake sponsorship scam.
The children have been going from door to door in the Archer Park area of town, pretending to be Cardinal Langley pupils and asking for sponsorship for a school fundraiser.
But Cardinal Langley headteacher Colin Mason has warned residents that the 'fundraiser', which purports to be collecting cash for a new school football strip, is a fake.
He added that, even if the school was trying to raise funds, teachers would never encourage students to ask strangers for money.
Mr Mason said: "For any form of sponsorship that might be going on in school, it is always clear that it is illegal to solicit for signatures on the streets or to go round from house to house. It's not legitimate.
"All students are given clear instructions in terms of what is right and what is wrong."
The scam came to light after the teenagers made the mistake of knocking on the door of a teacher. The teacher, realising that no school would ever send children walking the streets to collect sponsors, immediately contacted Cardinal Langley.
But the school is now concerned as, according to their contact, the sponsor form was already full of names - suggesting that some residents had either already parted with their money or had promised cash to the scammers.
Mr Mason said: "She said that a number of people had already signed up. We don't know if they've paid up or if they've committed. We hope these people haven't been put under pressure to hand over money."
The police have been informed and are investigating.
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I attended a number of schools in Middleton growing up and was never asked / forced to do anywhere near as much fund raising as the current Cardinal Langley pupils are asked to.
23/11/2006 at 12:32