Solicitation Calls Not Affiliated With The Police Department

Date Added: July 23, 2018 11:50 am

Ofc. Evan Doyle
Community Relations and Public Information Officer
Office – 386-506-5822
edoyle@port-orange.org

SOLICITATION CALLS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

          Recently, persons misrepresenting themselves as police officers have been collecting for the “Shop with a Cop” program. We are NOT soliciting for donations to this program! We encourage anyone who wishes to donate to a charitable organization to exercise due diligence when doing so. With new and inventive scams being thought of each day, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends being on the lookout for the following suspicious activity:

• Refuses to provide detailed information about its identity, mission, costs, and how the donation will be used.
• Won't provide proof that a contribution is tax deductible.
• Uses a name that closely resembles that of a better-known, reputable organization.
• Thanks you for a pledge you don’t remember making.
• Uses high-pressure tactics like trying to get you to donate immediately, without giving you time to think about it and do your research.
• Asks for donations in cash or asks you to wire money.
• Offers to send a courier or overnight delivery service to collect the donation immediately.
• Guarantees sweepstakes winnings in exchange for a contribution. By law, you never have to give a donation to be eligible to win a sweepstakes.

Please contact POPD to report suspicious activity immediately!