Fraud targets residentsand local environmental groups

For Immediate Release: September 1, 2008

Environmental supporters beware: a number of Londoners have been solicited by individuals falsely claiming to be from local environmental groups. People declaring themselves as representatives of these groups – which have included EnviroWestern, Friends of the Coves, and ReForest London – have been seen going door-to-door seeking cash donations, supposedly to support environmental initiatives.

But these reports have come as an unwelcome surprise to the organizers of those three groups, none of which actually solicit funds through door-to-door campaigns.

“This scam really angers me,” said Julie Ryan, Executive Director of ReForest London. “People want to support the environment, and these con artists are cheating people out of their money and hurting our legitimate organizations.”

EnviroWestern, Friends of the Coves, and ReForest London have collectively received word of nearly three dozen instances of fraudulent fundraising in their names, although they suspect this represents only a small fraction of the real number. Many of the reports fit a similar pattern. A young woman or man knocks on the door and claims to be distributing packages of native seeds and collecting donations for a non-profit organization. Donations are often given in cash by the unsuspecting London resident who thinks they are contributing to an environmental cause. The fraudulent solicitors have often been described as polite, well-spoken, and well prepared with information and materials from the websites of the organizations they claim to represent. “EnviroWestern does not solicit funds from our community,” said Will Bortolin, EnviroWestern Coordinator. “We are committed to providing environmental action and advocacy as a service to both students and the London community as whole. We still strongly encourage Londoners to support charitable causes, but just to be wary that scam artists like this are out there.”

Each of the three organizations has posted warnings on their websites, instructing Londoners to phone the police if they are approached by solicitors claiming to represent their organization. The locations affected have ranged as far northwest as Wonderland and Sarnia, and as far southeast as Clarke Road and Dundas. The organizations are asking Londoners to let them know if they’ve been solicited by these fake fundraisers.

EnviroWestern is the student answer to environmental issues at Western, providing both action and advocacy for issues important to students, as well as numerous opportunities for students to get involved. More information is available at www.usc.uwo.ca/envirowestern.

Friends of the Coves is a community organization working to protect, conserve, and steward the Coves Subwatershed. More information is available at www.thecoves.ca.

ReForest London engages individuals, groups and businesses in planting and caring for trees in neighbourhoods and natural areas throughout London. More information is available at www.reforestlondon.ca.