A SPORTS club has raised the alarm on scammers who are defrauding locals by pretending to raise money on the their behalf.

Islington Boxing Club issued an alert, warning people not to give money to teenagers who say they are collecting donations for the club. “I would never dream of sending kids out to do that,” said Reggie Hagland, who manages the club.

“It’s a safeguarding issue first and foremost, but also we’ve got official channels of raising donations – we would never send kids out onto the street.”

The teenagers have been spotted across the borough from Highbury Corner to Finsbury Park. They have been asking people for donations in coffee shops and outside tube stations and, more recently, even knocking on the doors of residential homes.

“They’ve even got card machines now, and they’ll say they’re doing a skipathon or a fun run. They’ve made up sponsorship forms. It’s heartless,” said Mr Hagland.

Mr Hagland said he reported the incidents to the police, but was told that there was little they could do to help.