COUNTYWIDE : Police Group Warns of Solicitation Scam

The Orange County Peace Officers Assn. warned Monday that some people are using pressure tactics to solicit funds falsely in the group’s name.

In the past two weeks, the group has received several phone calls from disgruntled citizens complaining that association representatives have been using strong-arm tactics to solicit contributions for a fund-raiser. In many instances, the callers have resorted to insulting language, officials said.

“We haven’t been involved in fund raising in over 15 years,” said Jan Garrison, general manager of the peace officers’ group. “We’re getting a bad rap out of this, and we have nothing to do with it.”

Garrison said she receives similar complaints throughout the year, but the association decided to release a warning this week because of the increase in phone calls in the past two weeks.

“We’ve gotten several complaints, and that does not include all the people who don’t bother to call us,” she said.

She explained that a recent caller was shocked to find out that the donations she had been making to the officers’ group for the past few years were not going to the group.

Fraudulent telephone solicitations account for millions of dollars a year lost to scams posing as charities, officials say.

Charities for Truth in Giving, an alliance of county agencies established to promote public awareness of charity fraud, suggests the following checklist, as required by the Charitable Solicitation Act, to ensure that a donation is going to a legitimate organization:

* Be wary of organizations that want to send someone over to collect the donation check within the next few hours or days. Confirm the legitimacy of the cause before giving away your money.

* Ask for the name, address and telephone number of the organization to benefit; the organization’s tax-exempt status and number; the actual percentage of the contribution going to the charity and estimated fund-raising expenses; something in writing such as literature, a letter or reply envelope.

* You have the option to refuse to donate if a solicitor hesitates to give any of the above.

If you have been solicited by someone representing the Orange County Peace Officers Assn., call (714) 538-6963. Complaints of suspicious solicitations may be made to Charities for Truth in Giving, through the Orange County Ronald McDonald House at (714) 639-3600.