Poverty-stricken Tayside drug addicts are attempting to con foodbank workers in a desperate bid to get extra parcels.
The Salvation Army foodbank in Forfar has changed its security policy after an influx of people attempting to “get one over” on volunteers.
Major Jim McCluskey, who runs the centre, said the rocketing number of people with drug or alcohol issues seeking food parcels had brought problems to the door.
“Someone will come and use a different name and we will say ‘no that’s not him, he was here yesterday’,” he said.
“They try to get one over on you and that’s the reason we tightened up on our procedures.
“We now ask for identification, names and address. I think if you have sunk to that level you have serious problems.
“Nobody wants to go through that for a tin of beans.”
Volunteers at the centre now have logbooks to fill out before anyone receives a parcel.
The thick folders are filled with the names of hundreds of people who regularly seek donations.
Mr McCluskey said turning anyone away is always a difficult task.
“I’ve been abused in the street by people who I’ve told no,” he said.
“Some people see it as a right and when they feel that’s been taken away they get very unhappy about it.
“Our main thing is to do something to try to help the person. Handing out food parcels willy-nilly is not the whole answer.”
Only about 10% of people who attend at the base are ever turned away empty-handed after an assessment.
Mr McCluskey said there has been no sign reliance on such services is set to decrease.
“Indications at this moment in time are that it’s not getting any better and we are not seeing a change any time soon,” he said.
“Where before people lived a life, now they just exist and they are moving from one crisis to the next without knowing where to turn.
“Education, budgeting and lifestyle choices have got to come into it.”
Adrian Curtis, UK Foodbank director at the Trussell Trust, the country’s largest food parcel network, said people trying to abuse the system are in the minority.
“The majority of those we help are desperately struggling to put food on the table for themselves and their families,” he said.