Police are alerting residents to a fraudulent donation scheme that appears to be targeting older residents in the area through mailers.
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According to the Middletown Township Police Department, several residents have received donation request letters from a group calling itself “Citizens Behind the Badge.”
The letters have been circulated around 55-plus communities, but it’s unclear if these areas are the specific targets, police said.
The mailers solicit donations and urge recipients to respond by September 20.
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However, police emphasized in a Facebook post that these letters are part of a scam and are advising the public not to send any money.
“To some, this may seem obvious, but to others this could have you fooled. Our best advise – please talk to your friends and neighbors and make sure that you use this piece of mail to start up your next fire,” police said.
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Law enforcement provided the below information when giving to charity:
Research: Always research a group before giving them money. Search for them online. Use a charity evaluator organization such as www.charitynavigator.org to research charitable organizations and obtain contact information. Look for the group’s name and see if the words “scam” or “complaint” come up, too. If they do, then the “charity” could really be a scam. If they say they are a part of a well-known group, contact that group directly using information you know is correct (from a legitimate website or phone book).
Know Where Your Money Is Going: Many charities hire fundraising organizations or other organizations to help them raise money. While that is not necessarily a scam, it is important to realize that part of your donation will likely be used for administrative or other costs. Before giving, research how much of your donation will go directly to the charity.
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Document Your Donations: Always write down when you donated, who you donated to, and how much money you gave. Writing down your donations will help you be on the lookout for scams that claim you already donated to them, even though you didn’t.
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