Authorities Warn of Telephone Fund-Raising Scam

Sheriff’s authorities are warning residents to be aware of a telephone fund-raising scam in which a man posing as a deputy sheriff has been trying to sell $7 tickets to send children to the circus.

In recent weeks, sheriff’s authorities have received several calls from people asking: “Are you conducting a fund-raiser?” Sheriff’s Lt. Dick Olson said.

The answer is definitely “no.”

“Several times a year we receive phone calls of this nature at the Sheriff’s Department,” Olson said in a news release. “While we are happy that citizens are calling us to ask about this type of telephone solicitation, we are angered because the Orange County Sheriff’s Department does not solicit funds from the public.”

Authorities say residents can take precautions to make sure they are not victimized in a telemarketing scam:

* Call the Registry of Charitable Funds in Sacramento at (916) 445-2021 to find out if a fund-raising organization is registered.

* Ask for written information or callback phone numbers from the telephone solicitor. In general, fraudulent solicitors will not give a real name or phone number for anyone seeking to call them back.

* If someone says they represent a particular law enforcement agency, call that agency to check if the fund-raising pitch is legitimate.

* Avoid using a credit card over the phone when making a charitable donation.

“Many legitimate charities are hurt by the fraudulent fund-raising schemes and Sheriff (Brad) Gates will actively investigate any such acts in our jurisdiction,” Olson said.