I received a call at 9:30 asking to support some kind of Peace Association with the police. When I replied no thanks I do all my donating through the Essex County Sheriff's Dept where my father works the guy hung up.
This is a recurring scam out of Oakland CA or other East Bay cities. It starts right after Valentine's Day. The phony event is usually being held in March or April according to the scammers. The venue is Chabot College or a similar location. They claim they are from the Alameda County Sheriff's Department or Oakland PD sponsoring a magic show or benefit for handicapped or underprivileged children. One guy gives the pitch, and then a second guy is the closer. They ask for a credit card to buy the tickets and say if you don't want them, they will give them to underprivileged kids who can't afford to go, and you can sponsor them. They usually ask for a donation of $35-$45 per person. They called me today and left a message to call them back if I was interested in their benefit. They called me the same time frame last year, and I did not buy a ticket. A check with Chabot College indicated no such benefit was scheduled last year. I plan to report them to Alameda County Sheriff for their investigation. I have blocked their number. Many times scammers will "spoof" a legitimate agency's caller ID and it will say the agency they claim to be like the Sheriff, OPD, Special Olympics etc. Don't fall for this trick. Don't give out your credit card number or buy tickets from these scammers. Contact the real agency they claim to be and let them know about the scam. Only buy legitimate benefit tickets in person from a trusted source.and not Craigslist or over the phone. It's sad that these scammers use children to promote their scam. I hope this information prevents others from getting ripped off.
I stopped him short, and said, "if you're looking for a charity donation, I can't help you. I've been out of work for a few years". He understood right away, saying he would call again next year. His number did show up on caller ID, without a name.
What gave him away as bogus was that he addressed me by first name, and also called me "sweetie", or "honey". Professional fundraisers and volunteers (usually) know to address prospects by their surnames. Onto the blocked call list you go!