Anti-Defund Fundraiser? Glen Rock Police Say It's Fake

GLEN ROCK, NJ — It appears that a group of opportunistic scammers are seizing a current social movement for their own personal gain.

On Thursday, Glen Rock Police issued a statement on Facebook addressing several resident reports that they've received calls "on behalf of an organization claiming to be raising money for local law enforcement due to current stressful conditions and the perceived defunding movement."

This, of course, is fake, police say.

"We know of no legitimate organizations soliciting for this purpose," the department said.

Police say if you receive a call over the next few days asking for money for this cause, it's actually easy to tell if it's a scam. Glen Rock Police don't solicit donations over the phone.

Glen Rock officers are members of the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association: Local 110. The PBA only conducts solicitation through mail, and usually only once a year.

Soliciting money for law enforcement agencies isn't an unusual scam, police say.

"Telephone calls from other groups representing themselves as 'law enforcement' organizations are frequently made by telemarketing firms, many of which are not legitimate," the department said.

For those seeking ways to give back, the department urges them to avoid these calls and consider patronizing local restaurants and merchants "who have been struggling since the outbreak of COVID-19."

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