Police warn of phone calls asking for funds for charity

Police in the Southern Interior are warning the public about a telephone scam making the rounds in the district and other parts of the province.

The Cops for Kids Foundation says in a news release that people are receiving suspicious, aggressive and high-pressure soliciting phone calls.

Southeast District RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Dan Moskaluk says in the release that in most cases, callers on the phone are asking for donations via credit card for the Cops for Kids charity.

The signature Cops for Kids ride is coming up in September, and police want to remind people that the RCMP, along with the charity, do not participate in any type of fundraising through cold phone calls.

"Ride team members on the Cops for Kids Ride are all responsible for raising a minimum of $2,000 in order to participate, which they’ve all done through their own fundraising events and personal contacts," the release says.

The Cops for Kids foundation raises funds through the year to support the needs of South Eastern B.C. families in medical, physical or traumatic crisis.

The RCMP does not engage in any kind of phone solicitations to raise funds, and Moskaluk says the public should be vigilant and question those collecting funds for any cause.

To verify the legitimacy of fundraising initiatives, visit the Better Business Bureau or the Canadian Radio-Television Telecommunications Commission.

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