WILMINGTON, MA — The Wilmington Police Department is warning residents of scam phone calls from fake police fundraising organizations.
“One of our officers received a fundraising phone call from a group identifying themselves as the ‘Police Officers Support Association’,” announced the Police Department on social media. “The Wilmington Police Department has no association with this organization and we have never even heard of them. We found a website for them, but it gives very little information about the organization and their mission. We highly encourage our followers to verify who they are making donations to when contacted for fundraisers.”
The Police Department then shared guidance from the Federal Trade Commission:
WASHINGTON, DC — Every day, police and firefighters risk their lives to make your community safer. To show your support, you may consider making a donation when a fund-raiser calls from a fire or police service organization. Before you write the check, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urges you to consider these facts:
- Simply having the words “police” or “firefighter” in an organization’s name doesn’t mean police or firefighters are members of the group.
- Just because an organization claims it has local ties or works with local police or firefighters doesn’t mean contributions will be used locally or for public safety. The organization should be able to provide you with written information describing the programs your donation will support, and their fund-raising costs before you donate.
- Most solicitations for police and fire service organizations are made by paid professional fund-raisers.
- Donations to some police or firefighter groups may not be tax deductible. Many kinds of organizations are tax exempt, including fraternal organizations, labor unions, and trade associations, but donations to them may not be tax deductible.
Want to know where your public safety contributions are going? Taking the following precautions can help ensure that donation dollars will benefit the people, organization, or community you want to help.
- Ask fund-raisers for identification. Many states require paid fund-raisers to identify themselves as such and to name the organization for which they’re soliciting.
- Ask how your contribution will be used. Ask what percentage of your contribution will go to the fire or police organization, department, or program. Also ask if your contribution will be used locally. Get written information.
- Call the organization or your local police or fire department to verify a fund-raiser’s claim to be collecting on behalf of the organization or department. If the claim cannot be verified, report the solicitation to your local law enforcement officials.
- Ask if your contribution is tax-deductible. Make your check payable to the official name of the group or charity. Avoid cash gifts: Cash can be lost or stolen.
- Be wary if a fund-raiser suggests you’ll receive special treatment for donating. For example, no legitimate fund-raiser would guarantee that you won’t be stopped for speeding if you have a police organization’s decal in your car window. Don’t feel intimidated about declining to give. A caller who uses intimidation tactics is likely to be a scam artist. Report the call to your local law enforcement officials.
For more information
Read more on charity scams or visit the BBB Wise Giving Alliance at www.give.org.
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