Computers for Charities promised money by Essex-based Toners Reunited in exchange for unused printer cartridges, but received nothing.
Eastbourne Herald reported that a charity based in Hailsham, East Sussex, has been scammed by a company called Toners Reunited, which offered to donate £500 ($845/€616) to Computers for Charities in exchange for unused printer cartridges but disappeared before donating the money.
Simon Rooksby, Founder and Chairman of Computers for Charities, which collects old IT equipment, refurbishes it and donates it to projects and organisations in 106 countries for the benefit of the disadvantaged, explained that the charity had encouraged people to donate their unused cartridges “to help raise funds for a local children’s project”.
He said: “We dropped the cartridges off at the Essex warehouse and started to sense there was a bit of a problem. No money was forthcoming and now we find the company’s website and telephone lines are defunct.”
After checking with the firm’s website host, Rubbercheese, Rooksby discovered that Computers for Charities was not the only one affected by the scam, with Rubbercheese receiving “an awful lot of calls from people with the same problem”. He added: “Like lots of other charities we are struggling to raise much-needed cash to benefit the needy and disadvantaged and we are reeling to discover it may all have been a scam.”
Essex police have reportedly been informed after Toners Reunited were unable to be contacted, with a police spokeswoman stating: “We advise people to thoroughly check out companies which make this kind of promise. This is devastating for well-meaning people who would like to think their generosity has helped people in need.”
Rooksby said: “The whole experience started with great hope to raise much needed cash but has ended as a real shock and disappointment. We also need to extend apologies to all the donors who gave us their unused printer toner cartridges to help raise funds for a local children’s project.”