‘Bogus solicitors’ working city

Eron Ben-Yehuda

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- In the wake of a recent shootout that left a

Huntington Beach officer wounded, con artists claiming to represent the

police union have called residents asking for donations, a union official

said last week.

“We have no idea who they are or where the money is going to,” said Russ

Reinhart, president of the Huntington Beach Police Officers’ Association.

The union received more than a dozen complaints so far about “bogus

solicitors,” who refuse to give their name, address or telephone number

to residents they call, he said. Instead, they arrange to drop by in

person and pick up the money, he said.

Because the callers reveal so little information about themselves, the

police department, which also received complaints, doesn’t have enough

leads to start an investigation, Police Lt. Chuck Thomas said. The police

don’t know how many residents have been taken or how much money has been

collected, he said.

Even with evidence, arresting these telemarketers proves very difficult

because they can pack up and leave their operation very quickly, said

Sgt. Joe Conseli, who works for the police department’s economic crimes

unit.

“By the time the complaints start coming in, we can’t locate them,” he

said.

They usually strike soon after police tragedies such as the Sept. 3

shooting of a police officer. Nick Ekovich Jr., 52, took two bullets in

the arm after interrupting a robbery, Thomas said. The solicitors pull at

people’s heartstrings by emphasizing the pain felt by the officer’s

family, he said.

Other police departments face a similar problem when their officers are

hurt in the line of duty, Thomas said.

“Unfortunately, this isn’t new,” he said.

To protect against such fraud, people should always call the organization

the telemarketers claim to represent and always be suspicious of callers

who insist on picking up the money in person, police said.