Blue Springs police issue warning about bogus fundraising calls
Blue Springs police are warning residents and area businesses about a new telephone scam involving someone claiming to be fundraising for the department’s “shop with a cop” event and the citizens academy shop.
The scammers solicit donations over the phone and ask for credit card information. A Lee’s Summit woman mistakenly donated $50 to one of the bogus callers, said Jennifer Dachenhausen, a police spokeswoman.
In the Shop With a Blue Springs Cop program, children considered disadvantaged or at risk by area educators or counselors are given money to shop for family members with representatives of the Blue Springs Police Department.
The annual event is organized by the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association of Blue Springs along with the Blue Springs Police Department, whose officers and representatives donate their time.
“It is shameful that this unscrupulous person is using our organization’s event to scam people out of their credit card information,” Blue Springs Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association president Kevin Hornick said in a statement. “We do not fundraise in this manner, and it is appalling that someone would take advantage of our community in this way.”
People and businesses that receive a solicitation call should contact the Blue Springs Police Department at 816-228-0150.
| Glenn E. Rice, grice@kcstar.com
This story was originally published September 23, 2014 at 8:41 AM with the headline "Blue Springs police issue warning about bogus fundraising calls."