Dudley church group's fundraising bid targeted again by con artists
A church group that became the target of con artists pretending to collect money on their behalf has been subject to another swindle.
St John's Church Preservation Group, working to support the church, in Kates Hill, Dudley, were informed that a fraudster was ringing their suppliers in an attempt to gain a discount.
It comes as bogus callers knocked on doors and conned people out of around £300 in cash after claiming they were collecting for the group in recent weeks.
Deb Brownlee, chair of the group, said the latest con was 'heartbreaking'.
Mrs Brownlee said she was told of the scam from a source who had taken a call for a booking from a fake trustee.
She said: "Following hot on the heels of bogus collectors going door to door collecting in the name of our charity, we now find someone ringing one of our regular suppliers pretending to be one of our trustees for reasons we can only assume to be to obtain a discount.
"We never saw this coming and quite honestly we are despairing at the fraud going on in our name. We can only urge people to please contact us direct if they have any approach from anyone saying they are connected with St John's Church Preservation Group.
"We have worked for years to create and keep a good name for our cause and to have unscrupulous people trying to cash in is heartbreaking."
The con comes as another blow to the group, which is nearing the final stages of its restoration project to re-open the Grade II-listed church that was closed in 2002.
In a message posted on the groups Facebook page, Mrs Brownlee added: "The list of trustees are myself, Keith Jeffries, Maria Millward Bottley, John Poole, Martin Horwood and Margaret Whiting.
"Nobody else - anybody else is an imposter and yet again trying to use this group for personal gain. We are mighty sick of this."
The group hopes to finally secure the lease for the church building in the coming weeks and run genuine funding appeals.
They urge anyone approached for donations by any other method to get in touch with them direct on 0787 119 5042 or by emailing savestjohnschurch@hotmail.co.uk - and not to make any donation until verified genuine.
A West Midlands Police spokesperson confirmed that no arrests had been made and anyone with information about the latest or previous fraud incidents should contact them on 101.
