Staff at the Red Cross charity shop in Bonnygate, Cupar, have been left upset and angry over the behaviour of a female who was apparently engaged in fraud.
After asking to borrow a collection box for a charity event, the woman proceeded to collect or attempt to collect money at locations in the town centre.
One of the staff at the shop, Effie Trail, told The Courier that she could not believe what had happened.
She said that the woman, who was quite large and had a distinctive hairstyle, came into the shop on Thursday and asked for a Red Cross container to collect money at an event.
“She said that the money would be donated to the charity, and without thinking I said that it would be okay.”
Effie said that later in the day she was told a woman had been in a hairdressers trying to collect for the charity, and immediately knew something was wrong.Seen around the townThere had been no collections in Cupar that day, and it was clear the woman was using the box she had been given, she said.
Effie siad, “I’ve been told that she was seen at a few places in the town, and we would like to appeal to anyone who saw her to contact us or the police.
“The matter has been reported, and we hope that someone will come forward so that this woman can be found before anyone else is caught out.”
She added, “We want to remind anyone who is approached in the street by someone claiming to represent the Red Cross that they should have official identification.
“Apparently the woman was wearing something that looked like part of the neck strap from an identification card.”
Effie said the woman was in areas with CCTV, and hoped something might have been picked up.
Last night Fife Constabulary said an incident had been reported and that inquiries are continuing.