A legitimate local police association raising funds for an event it will host has found itself competing with scam artists claiming to be local law enforcement, according to the Shawano Police Department.
“We’ve been getting a lot of calls about our number and the sheriff’s department number being hijacked,” Police Chief Mark Kohl said.
According to authorities, scammers have the technology to fake incoming numbers that show up in Caller ID.
That has caused some confusion over the past several days for residents unsure whether they were being contacted by scammers or the Shawano Professional Police Association (SPPA), which happens to be doing some fundraising.
The SPPA is soliciting money for a music concert fundraiser to be held at the Shawano Community High School on March 6.
Police have logged about eight or 10 calls, according to Kohl, from someone claiming to be from the department and asking for money for various charities.
Another caller asked for a person’s personal information instead of a donation.
Yet another caller was a 71-year-old woman asking for a check to donate to the department.
“The Shawano Police Department is not soliciting money or any other type of donation,” Kohl said.
Kohl said there have been more bogus calls being made than calls from the SPPA.
“The majority are scam calls,” he said.
Any doubts about who is really calling can be resolved by contacting SPPA President Kurt Kitzman at 715-524-4545, Kohl said.
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