Warning over con

Criminals have been using the name of an armed forces charity to scam businesses in Staffordshire out of hundreds of pounds.

Bosses at the Staffordshire branch of SSAFA, the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association, are warning cheque-cashing companies in the county not to fall for the con and have described the actions of the crooks as "callous" and "disgraceful."

Businesses in Cannock, Tamworth and Stoke have been caught out by the fraudsters who are using the charity logo and cheques to convince the businesses they are genuine employees of the charity. They have got away with approximately £800 each time.

But the county secretary of SSAFA, Reverend John Davies, from Stafford's St Mary's Church, told the Express & Star the charity did not issue personal cheques and did not employ people.

SSAFA, which has 48 volunteers in Staffordshire, offers support services to people with a connection to the forces and can help their families too.

Rev Davies stressed the charity itself was not losing any money but he said the scam was damaging to the organisation at a time when the armed forces needed the most help.

He added: "To target a charity trying to support our servicemen and women at this particular time when we have forces in places like Afghanistan is disgraceful and callous.

"These people have obtained the logos for the charity and are presenting these cheques with documentation which is so realistic people are expecting money from the charity.

"We are not losing out because the cheques are not genuine but it is tarnishing the charity's name."

Peter Bate, spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "If cheque-cashing businesses have concerns or suspicions, they should always check with the bank that issued the cheque that it is genuine.

"People purporting to work for charities should carry photo ID and the business should check with the charity if in doubt. If someone is suspected of fraud, then businesses should refuse to serve them, and contact police."