by Mark McDermott
The Manhattan Beach Police Department is warning residents that if they receive a fundraising call from MBPD’s Police Officers Association, they should hang up and alert actual police. MBPD does indeed have a POA but that organization never fundraises by phone.
MBPD Officer Jessica Borello said the calls are a scam in which criminals are exploiting the trust citizens place in law enforcement by impersonating MBPD officers in order to deceive them into giving them funds.
“We do not solicit donations to the POA over the phone,” Borello said. “So none of us will call and say, ‘This is Officer Borello, or officer whoever,’ or ‘This is Manhattan Beach Police Department, do you want to give a donation to our association?’ We will not ask for your credit card or any personal information over the phone.”
Police discovered the scam was occurring in late November when they received calls from residents about it. How many people fell victim to the scam is unknown. But Borello said that after MBPD posted on Instagram about the scam, one resident reached to say, “Oh no, I fell for it.” Likely, others did, too.
Borello said such scams are common, especially in areas like Manhattan Beach and Beverly Hills that are known as wealthy communities.
“These things are repetitive, it just depends on the time of year,” she said. “Now, at the end of the year, they are asking for POA donations. We’ve seen other scams that target older adults. They just recycle these phone scams, unfortunately, so we have to make ourselves aware, and basically just hang up. Don’t answer any questions. You can always call the police department to verify, but I am telling you right now, the police department does not solicit donations for our POA over the phone.”
The POA does send out a brochure, one that includes a message from MBPD Officer Daniel Brandt, a QR code, and references to both the ManhattanBeachPOA.com website and its Facebook page.
“That is what community members are going to get in the mail,” Borello said. “Not a phone call.”
Police offer the following recommendations to protect themselves from this and other phone scams:
Verify Caller Information: If you receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to be associated with law enforcement, ask for their name, badge number, and the purpose of the call. Hang up and independently verify their identity by calling the official phone number for the MBPD.
Exercise Caution with Personal Information: Avoid providing personal or financial information over the phone unless you are certain of the caller’s legitimacy. Scammers often use this information for identity theft and financial fraud.
Report Suspicious Calls: If you receive a suspicious call, report it to the MBPD immediately at 310-802-5140. Providing details about the call can aid in ongoing investigations and help protect others from falling victim to the scam.
Educate Yourself and Others: Share information about this scam with friends, family, and colleagues to raise awareness in the community. The more people who are informed, the less likely scammers are to succeed. ER
