Police Scam Warning Calls for Vigilance
Dec 04, 2023 01:34PM ● By Mb News Staff
A warning about a new phone scam involving the Police Officers Association can be broadened to include any number of new scams cropping up during the holiday season.
Bottom line: Don't give away money or information to anyone who calls you; and don't respond to solicitations and offers online that seem too good to be true. Also note: AI-generated videos that you may see online are getting extremely convincing - Don't fall for scams that look like a celebrity promising a too-good-to-be-true deal. (Exhibit A is an extremely realistic AI-generated video circulating on Instagram in which Jennifer Garner offers to give away a free Le Creuset cooking set through her partnership with Le Creuset.)
The Manhattan Beach Police Department released the following warning about solicitations for donations by phone:
The Manhattan Beach Police Department (MBPD) issued a public warning regarding a phone scam that has recently emerged in our community. Scammers are impersonating the MBPD Officers Association (MBPD-POA) in an attempt to deceive individuals by asking for donations by phone. MBPD has worked with the MBPD-POA to clarify that the only fundraising campaign the officer’s association has recently marketed is via a mailer to the community. Below is a copy of that fundraising flyer mailed to residents in Manhattan Beach. The MBPD-POA only issued the mailer – no telephone calls will be placed asking for donations.
MBPD reminds our residents to be diligent when responding to donation requests to ensure they do not fall victim to a scam during this holiday season.
For questions on this issue, contact Officer Jessica Borello at (310) 802-5184.
