Friday, 27 June 2014

Begging scams are most common during Ramadhan

There will always be people who try to take advantage of others. Such practices can be especially acute during the month of Ramadhan, a time when Muslims are enjoined to be charitable.

Some of the common scams seen around the world include:

People with faked wounds or bandages, or carrying children treated in the same way*, ***, ******. A variation is to have sedated children who look ill or starving*.

People who don't have their bank card or wallet with them and urgently need money because a relative is ill**,****,*****. A variation is for the scammer to ask for money to take a taxi because a relative is killed or injured.

People who pretend to be taken ill; the victim pays their medical bills**.

A family in a car who has run out of money for petrol and 'milk for the baby'***, ******. A variation is a mother with a child who doesn't have the money to get home****. Another variation involves a car with its hood up*****.

People who approach others, saying they do not have the money to perform hajj******.

*Described in India in 2011 here.
**Described in Oman in 2008 here; some of the scams are described in the comments.
***Described in UAE in 2011 here.
****Described in the US in 2012 by Snopes here.
*****Described in the US in by Scambusters here.
******Described in the UAE in 2014 here. It is an offence to beg in the UAE.