Beware of cheats in garb of fundraisers

Muscat, Jan 22 - The Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) has warned the public against entities cheating people on the pretext of charity. With an increase in the number of requests on social media for public donations for a cause, the MoSD has urged the people to donate only through accredited establishments. Many companies, institutions and supermarkets have set up donation funds at their counters without approval. The MoSD has asked them to abide by procedures of granting licences as per the ministerial decision No (53/2010) under non-government organisations law issued by Royal Decree No (14/2000). The decision regulates donations through charities, coupons, funds, sports matches, texting or bank accounts. The collection of donations without approval is considered a crime. As per the law, whoever asks for donations or collects money without permission can be jailed for one to three months and fined RO 200 to RO 600. If it involves collecting and sending donations outside the country, the prison term can range from three months to a year and a fine of RO 1,000 to RO 2,000. In both cases, the court has the right to confiscate the collected amount. “Any institution or individual should obtain the ministry’s approval for collecting donations. The name of applicant (group or institution) should be mentioned in their application, indicating the location or place of proposed collection. A copy of the competent authorities’ approval and the manner of disposal of proceeds of the money should also be mentioned,” said an MoSD official. According to the ministry, the collection of funds should be linked to a specific project or activity that is held at a designated place or on a designated date. The fund should be opened only by a committee consisting of not less than three people. The ministry should be provided with a statement showing the proceeds of donations. It should also be accompanied by valid documents. As a number of illegal entities have started raising money from outside the country, the MoSD emphasised they should not collect funds from foreign persons/ entities or transfer them to persons outside Oman or use them for a purpose other than for which approval was granted. The ministry in 2009 set up an electronic portal for Omani charity agencies, operated by Information Technology Authority (ITA). It simplifies the process of making donations to a charity of one’s choice by offering citizens and residents an opportunity to do so online. Zainab al Nassri