The Ottawa Police Service is warning the public about another attempt by scammers purporting to represent the department’s Teddy Bear charity program.
Police said someone has been soliciting area homes looking for donations for the program, which gives stuffed animals to sick and needy children.
The latest warning comes a little over a month after police had to warn area residents of a similar scam involving a caller pretending to be an Ottawa police officer, claiming to be with an area charity and asking for a donation, then requesting people’s credit card numbers.
Police stressed that they never solicit donations for the Teddy Bear or any other charitable programs. Anyone asking for money for the program is not authorized to do so.
People are urged to contact charities directly, either by phone or via their websites.
Anyone contacted by such a caller is asked to call the police fraud unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5162. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or by downloading the Ottawa police app.
