DWYM: police charity caution

A warning tonight about calls targeting people around the Tri-State – asking them to help support the police.

Even if you like the idea, how do you know the call is legitimate?

A CAUTION TONIGHTABOUT CALLS TARGETING TRISTATERS....ASKING THEM TOHELP SUPPORT THE POLICE.EVEN IF YOU LIKE THEIDEA....HOW DO YOU KNOW THECALL IS LEGITIMATE?CONSUMER REPORTER JOHNMATARESE AND THE BETTERBUSINESS BUREAU SHOW HOW TOCHEK OUT THAT GROUP, SO YOUDON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY.WITH EVERYTHINGTHAT'S HAPPENING THIS PANDEMICYEAR.... PEOPLE ARE GETTINGMORE AND MORE CALLS TO SUPPORTTHEIR LOCAL POLICE.LEAVING POLITICS ASIDE FORA MINUTE.... HOW DO YOU KNOWIF THOSE CALLS ARE LEGITIMATE?-----------------------WENDYBECKMAN GOT A CALL THE OTHERDAY FROM A MAN ASKING HER TOHELP RETIRED POLICE ANDFIREFIGHTERS.

BEINGA GENEROUS PERSON, SHE AGREEDTO MAIL THEM 50DOLLARS."My brother was a cop,my cousin was a cop, one of mysons is a cop, so I reallywant to support the police forwhat they do." BUTTHEN SHE STARTED TO WORRY....ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE COULDN'TFIND THE GROUP LISTED AS ACHARITY ANYWHERE ONLINE.SHE REMEMBERS NEWS STORIESTWO YEARS AGO....ABOUT A MANWHO RAISED THOUSANDS OFDOLLARS FOR THE "SHOP WITH ACOP" PROGRAM... THEN ALLEGEDLYSPENT IT ON PERSONALEXPENSES"I got burned a coupleof years ago when I found outanother charity I wascontributing to was not a realcharity, so I thought I shouldprobably check this oneout." SO WHATSHOULD SHE HAVE DONE?THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAUSAYS IF ANYONE CALLS OR KNOCKSASKING YOU TO HELP THE POLICE,THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO ISASK THEM FOR INFORMATION....BEFORE YOU AGREE TODONATE."The words police andwords firefighter are nottrademarked, so it is veryeasy for scammers to sue thosenames and create fakeorganizations.

And it's veryeasy to catch the eye ofsomeone." SARAKEMERER OF THE BBB TOLD ME YOUSHOULD LOOK THEM UP AT THEBBB WEBSITE ...OR CHARITYNAVIGATOR.... OR GUIDESTAR.ORG.TURNS OUT"POLICE AND FIRE RETIREES" ISA LEGITIMATE NON PROFITLOBBYING GROUP ...THOUGH NOT ACHARITY UNDER IRS RULES.WENDY IS FINE WITHTHAT, AND WILL SLEEP BETTERNOW, "I'm sure there are alot that are not on the level,so you kind of have to becautious."IF YOU ARE STILLNOT SURE IF YOUR MONEY ISREALLY GOING TO THECAUSE...CALL YOUR LOCAL POLICEOR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ASK HOWYOU CAN DONATE THERE...SO YOUDONT WASTE YOUR MONEY.JOHN MATARESE WCPO 9NEWS