Baltimore Sun

Search the Baltimore County community newspaper archives

>> Click here to search for stories published AFTER 2011

>> Use this search box to find stories published prior to 2011.

Note: All Words is a more strict search. Implied operator is "AND."
Ex: Charles Dickens"

news

home

Sheriff's office investigating donations scams

BY KIRSTEN DIZE

Posted 3/01/10

Many people contribute to local groups or charities regularly, confident their donations go to a good cause; however, for some Harford County residents, their money may not be going where they think.

In recent months, several Harford County residents have contacted the Harford County Sheriff's Office about calls they've received seeking monetary donations to benefit the agency.

The residents said the caller told them their donations would go toward supplying bulletproof vests to members of the sheriff's office.

While the cause is a good one, the calls may not be legitimate. Sheriff's office public information specialist Monica Worrell says the agency is not responsible for the calls.

"The sheriff's office does not solicit funds," Worrell said.

While there are several sheriff's office funds that can be donated to, the agency never makes telephone calls to seek money, Worrell assured.

The residents who prudently called the sheriff's office to confirm the donation requests were legitimate may have avoided a scam. Others could still fall victim.

The calls were not isolated to a single community within Harford County.

Worrell said the sheriff's office isn't sure who is making the calls, but she is sure they aren't coming from her department.

"We ask people to call and confirm," Worrell said about any solicitation purported to involve or benefit the sheriff's office.

Anyone receiving calls asking for donations to the Harford County Sheriff's Office may contact the office of media and public relations with the sheriff's office, 410-836-5403, to check the legitimacy of the request.