Police warning as Bury St Edmunds car park con artists at West Suffolk Hospital and Waitrose make fraudulent charity claims
Police are aware of car park con artists fraudulently claiming to be raising money for West Suffolk Hospital operating in Bury St Edmunds.
Reports on social media said members of the public were approached in the car parks of the hospital and Waitrose yesterday by men claiming to be raising money for a new deaf and blind unit at the hospital.
On at least one occasion cash donations were made to the perpetrators by unsuspecting members of the public.
Sgt Joe Nettleton, from Bury police, said: “We are aware of reports of two incidents informing people they were raising money fraudulently in aid of West Suffolk Hospital.
“The first happened at about 1pm at Waitrose in the town and a second at 2.30pm at West Suffolk Hospital yesterday. In one incident one of the offenders took a quantity of cash from the victim.
“Always ask for formal identification from someone who claims to be collecting for a charity or good cause.”
One victim, in a social media post, said her husband was approached after leaving the hospital.
“Our son had just received brilliant treatment from the Rainbow Ward so he was more than happy to donate and didn't give it a second’s thought,” she said. “When the male took his money and slotted it into a wad of cash and back into his own pocket my husband thought something was odd.”
He then checked with the hospital, realised the fund-raising appeal was not legitimate and returned to the car park to confront the men, managing to retrieve his donation from one.
The second man tried to escape and the victim chased him across the car park and into the wooded area.
It is believed other people were also taken in by the scam.
Today, a West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: “Only My WiSH Charity, Friends of West Suffolk Hospital and pre-approved registered charities are permitted to undertake promotion or fund-raising activity on our hospital sites, so please remain vigilant.
“The trust takes the safety of our patients, visitors and staff extremely seriously. As a result of this incident, security patrols have been increased.”
The trust is investigating the incident.
Police inquiries are ongoing and they are urging anyone who had experienced a similar situation to contact police online at www.suffolk.police.uk/tell-us or on 101.
