'I want my money back!' Chen Guangbiao cries foul over fake UN philanthropy certificate
Chinese tycoon who took 250 homeless New Yorkers to lunch donated US$30,000 to foundation that claims connection to the United Nations
Controversial mainland philanthropist Chen Guangbiao claimed he was deceived by an organisation that issued him a fake United Nations certificate for the honorary title of the “world’s most prominent philanthropist”, a mainland news website reported.
The recycling mogul told Shanghai-based website thepaper.cn on Sunday that the United Nations had named him the “world’s most prominent philanthropist” and the “global peace and goodwill ambassador” for his generosity to the homeless New Yorkers.
But the certificate, coming after Chen had made a US$30,000 donation, turned out to be a fraud.
In the latest step of his global charity campaign, Chen, who described himself as a “leading Chinese philanthropist” in his full-page advert in The New York Times, offered free lunches to 250 homeless residents in New York on June 25. Some of the diners left disappointed, saying Chen had promised them each US$300 in cash.
During the luncheon, a man who claimed to be Patrick Donohue awarded Chen a certificate on behalf of China Foundation for Global Partnership.