WAUSAU, WI -- The Wausau Police Department is warning of a phone scam circulating the area.
In a Facebook post, the department says some residents have reported receiving phone calls from someone claiming to be from the department, asking for money for an unspecified fundraiser. "We as a police department do not call people and ask for donations anymore. If we are having a fundraiser, it is usually advertised," said Lieutenant Melinda Pauls.
She says it's unclear if the scammers were asking for the money for a specific purpose such as a fallen officer fund. Either way, she says the department does not have any active fundraisers right now and does not have any planned. "We are not and will not be doing that any time soon." In any case, if the Police need money out of you, Pauls says they will make the request in person. "It would be a scam if they were to get a phone call requesting money for bond or a citation. We would never do that over the phone."
Pauls says your best bet is always to hang up the phone and report the incident. Do not give out personal information such as a bank account or credit card number to anyone over the phone.
