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Now they beg on cell phones

RAWALPINDI: Beggars have started using mobile phones to fool people into giving them hefty alms in the name of religion. As a matter of routine, they send messages asking for a credit of Rs 10-100, offering in return a place in paradise.

Muhammad Usman, a businessman, told Daily Times that he received almost 10 messages a day in which a beggar used to ask him for mobile credit.

One message reads, “I am a poor man and my daughter is admitted to hospital. If you have faith in one God, please send me a credit of at least Rs 10. God may reward you and take you out of all troubles.”

Usman said it was hard to tackle these messages as they came in plenty. Another mobile user said money should not be given to unknown senders of messages as this was no way to beg.

He said mobile credit could not be utilised to buy food or anything else. He said these message senders exploited people’s faith and mobile users should be aware of the situation. “Customers often complain of unknown messages calling for money,” said a PCO owner Muhammad Rajid. He said the beggars misused credit sharing facility on mobile phones.

Anam Yunus said she used to send Rs 10 daily in response to a message calling for money in the name of God. “I give money only in the name of God, regardless of who the message sender is,” she said. She said the beggars should not blackmail the people who helped them. imran asghar

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