Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have become an integral part of society, as they are established to address social issues and provide aid to people in need. However, the rise of self-styled NGOs, also known as fake NGOs, has become a major concern. These organizations use religion, society, orphans, and other noble causes to take funds from the public, only to use them for personal benefits. This article will examine the dangers of these self-styled NGOs and how they are hurting society.

Fake NGOs are exploiting people’s goodwill and generosity for their own selfish purposes. They use false claims and lies to convince people to donate money, thinking it will go to help the underprivileged. They use persuasive language, emotional appeals, and religious arguments to appeal to people’s sense of compassion and generosity. These tactics are highly manipulative and misleading, and they take advantage of people’s faith in charitable organizations.

Once they receive donations, fake NGOs often use the money for personal expenses, such as buying luxurious cars, homes, and expensive gadgets. They use the money for their own personal gain, instead of using it to address the issues they claimed to be working on. This not only defrauds donors but also harms the vulnerable people who need the help most.

The fake NGOs also harm the credibility of genuine NGOs who work tirelessly to provide aid to people in need. They diminish public trust in charitable organizations, which can reduce donations and make it more difficult for genuine NGOs to help people. Furthermore, these fake NGOs often do not follow any legal framework, which makes them unaccountable and immune to law enforcement. They operate outside the jurisdiction of the government and law, making it difficult to hold them accountable for their fraudulent activities.

To combat this problem, there needs to be increased public awareness and education about the dangers of fake NGOs. People need to be cautious when donating their money and must conduct research before donating to any organization. People should investigate the authenticity of the NGO, their registration, and their activities before donating. People should also donate directly to genuine organizations, and avoid giving money to individuals or organizations that have no legal framework.

Self-styled NGOs are a significant problem in society. They exploit people’s goodwill, use fraudulent tactics to raise funds and misuse the funds for personal benefits. They harm the credibility of genuine NGOs, and they diminish public trust in charitable organizations. It is essential that people are educated about the dangers of these fake NGOs and are vigilant when donating money. It is also important that the government takes measures to regulate these fake NGOs and hold them accountable for their fraudulent activities. Only then can we prevent the exploitation of people’s generosity and ensure that aid reaches the people who need it most.

One of the common tactics used by self-styled NGOs to get money from the public is to use religion as a tool to appeal to people’s emotions and faith. They often claim to be working for a religious cause or claim to be affiliated with a religious organization to gain people’s trust and legitimacy.

These fake NGOs often use religious language and symbols to manipulate people into donating money. They may use quotes from religious texts to support their claims, or they may claim that their work is divinely inspired. They may also hold religious events, such as prayer meetings or religious seminars, to attract people and collect donations.

In some cases, these fake NGOs may also use the name of a popular religious figure or organization to attract donations. They may claim to be affiliated with a well-known religious leader or organization to gain people’s trust and legitimacy.

However, it is important to note that genuine religious organizations and leaders do not endorse or support these fake NGOs. In fact, many religious organizations have spoken out against such practices and have encouraged people to be cautious when donating money to organizations claiming to be affiliated with a religious cause.

It is important for people to be aware of these tactics and to investigate the authenticity of any organization claiming to be affiliated with a religious cause before donating money. Genuine religious organizations have a clear structure and accountability, and they do not rely on emotional appeals or false claims to raise funds.

The use of religion as a tool to get money from the public is a dangerous and fraudulent practice used by self-styled NGOs. People should be cautious when donating money to organizations claiming to be affiliated with a religious cause, and they should investigate the authenticity of the organization before donating. Genuine religious organizations do not rely on emotional appeals or false claims to raise funds and have a clear structure and accountability.

In recent years, there has been a concerning trend of self-styled NGOs using the occasion of Ramadan to solicit donations from the public for iftar and sehri meals. These organizations claim to be providing meals for the poor and needy during the holy month of Ramadan, which is a time of charity and giving in the Islamic faith. However, many of these self-styled NGOs are not genuine charitable organizations and instead use the occasion of Ramadan to exploit people’s generosity and trust. They collect donations in the name of iftar and sehri, claiming to provide meals to the poor and needy, but instead use the funds for personal gain.
This is a particularly egregious form of fraud, as Ramadan is a time of heightened religious devotion and charity in the Muslim community. Many people are eager to give to charitable causes during Ramadan and may be more susceptible to these fraudulent schemes.

It is important for people to be aware of these fraudulent practices and to investigate the authenticity of any organization before donating money. Genuine charitable organizations have a clear structure and accountability, and they do not rely on emotional appeals or false claims to raise funds.

Furthermore, it is important for religious leaders and organizations to speak out against these fraudulent practices and to encourage their followers to give to genuine charitable organizations during Ramadan and throughout the year.

In conclusion, the exploitation of Ramadan to solicit donations for iftar and sehri meals by self-styled NGOs, is a concerning trend. People should be cautious when donating money to organizations claiming to provide meals for the poor and needy during Ramadan, and they should investigate the authenticity of the organization before donating. Genuine charitable organizations have a clear structure and accountability, and they do not rely on emotional appeals or false claims to raise funds.

The Author is Social Activist and President of Tehreek-e-Naujawan. He can be reached at [email protected]

Irfan Attari Kashmiri