'Tis the season to be thieving! Several area residents have received telephone solicitations stating they are raising money for the East Peoria Police Department. The police department is not conducting any fundraising campaign.
Police departments in this area do not typically fund raise over the phone. Anyone who receives a call of this nature for any police department should not give out any personal information, account numbers or credit card information. If you want to donate to your local police department, please do so in person at the department itself. That will ensure your money is going to the department. Police departments will be able to tell you if they have any special programs going at that time for which they seek funding.
Remember, criminals seek times when they know people are in the giving spirit such as holidays and after a disaster. Their goal is to separate you from your hard-earned money by exploiting your emotional desire to give.
A little knowledge can go a long way. If you want to donate to any cause, seek the cause out yourself and contact them via telephone or in person. Be skeptical of anybody contacting you asking for money or information that gives them access to your money.