Penza, 7 November 2014. PenzaNews. Young people in white t-shirts saying “Help save a life” over their clothes, who as of late are actively gathering money on Penza streets allegedly to help Natalya Petrova, a citizen of Zainsk, are a part of a pseudo-volunteer network hiding behind her name, suspected executive director of fund “Civil Union” Oleg Sharipkov.

“Even if they send a portion of their funds to pay for medical services, such money-gathering schemes are fairly suspicious. We tried talking to a girl volunteer standing on the corner of Kulakova and Suvorova streets, but she speaks Russian badly and does not want to explain what she does, what organization she works for, only shows the box with the picture,” explained the fund director.

Oleg Sharipkov advised Penza citizens to co-operate with well-known and honest charity organizations who are really gathering money for people with illnesses and diseases.

Suspicious activists in Penza were spotted on the crossroads of Volodarskovo and Maksima Gorkovo streets, by Suvorovsky trade center, by the regional court building, and on the intersection of prospekt Pobedy and Karpinskovo street.

Similar volunteers were spotted by the public in other cities of Volga Federal District. According to Angelina Silina, who administrates the fundraising activities for Natalya Petrova, she knows of similar cases in Kazan.

“It turned out they did send some money to Natalya. But still, it is better to provide help directly to her bank account – this way, it will definitely help,” Angelina Silina remarked.