Just got this call this morning.

Pappy

Pappy

Living the Dream
Location
Moved back to NY from Florida. 🤓 2025
Just another scam to take your cash.

Fundraisers Calling on Behalf of Police and Firefighters

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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.
 

No, I don't give money to "charities". I'd like to believe that my donation was going to help someone in need. I don't think CEOs of charities making 7 and 8 figure salaries is why I want to give my money away-, nor is to spend most of it on endless donation campaigns. And certainly not on a "phone voice" inferring that I get a "get out of ticket" card, by giving money to some "police chiefs" organization. I remember when I heard my uncle wipped out one of those "I gave to the police chiefs" cards, when he was pulled over for speeding. The cop couldn't stop laughing.
 
I'll drop some money in the boot a couple times a year when our firefighters hold their fundraisers.

They stand out in the middle of the street in their gear and hold out their boots for money. There's always a firetruck parked nearby. I KNOW they're the "real thing", so I feel secure in donating.

Other than that, nope. No donations over the phone.
 
I got a call last week from the police chiefs fundraiser.

It sounds like the same man every year and every year my answer is the same.

He always asks if I would like to make a donation and then he tries to get my mailing information so he can mail a donation kit. He always stops in mid-sentence and offers to take my donation right then and there on the phone all he needs is my credit card number.

It amazes me that enough people fall for these scams to justify the time effort and risk involved.

"There's a sucker born every minute." - David Hannum
 
I also get them periodically. I hang up or tell them to call their congressman. I think they're
Mostly robo calls.
 
If I don't recognize the name or the number, I don't answer. If they don't leave a message, I look up their number on the internet and see what they're trying to scam this time. Either way, I block their number so they can't call here again.
 

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