Phone scam?

[WillParkinson]

Tonight we got a call from someone who identified himself as part of the "Wisconsin Police Association" and said that they were collecting for "Seat Belts for Kids".

Paul told them that we're strapped due to his previous heart stuff and upcoming surgery. They hung up.

We checked the phone number online: [phone] and only came up with one hit. A page here:

http://www.wgel.com/news/ashnews.php?page=showmonth&m=06&y=2004

This paper says it's a phone scam. Has anyone else ever heard of or gotten a call from this place?

(When we tried to call back there was an answering machine that gave no name and simply said to leave a message and they would return the call. The caller ID said, "Unknown name" with the phone number).

[Lefta Dissenter]

1. those police association scams

are quite common - though I sure don't get them much anymore after going on the no-call list.

They play on your guilt and your sense of appreciation and patriotism. I'll bet most of them work on the repug campaigns now, same tactics.

[ewagner]

2. Here's how it works...

A telemarketing company creates a "charitable organization" with a name on it and maybe even gets a legitimate police officer to sit on an advisory committee or something like that. They then make phone calls for a BOG percentage of the amount they raise, take another cut for "administrative services" and give the SMALL remainder to some police departments for grants. Telemarketing company makes a fortune...owners get fees...

They've been doing this for a couple of years.........

[RoyGBiv]

3. Not this specific one ...

But, yes, this is a scam. It's a pattern that's been around for awhile now.

I'd bet you have no luck even finding an organization called the "Wisconsin Police Association."

[pagerbear]

4. I used to get them.

"Hello?"
"Hey Dave! How ya doing?" (No one, and I mean no one, calls me Dave.)
--click--

[WillParkinson]

5. That's not true!

HAL called you Dave.

"What are you doing, Dave"?