ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – The Ormond Beach Police Department is warning people about a scam involving a caller who has identified himself as an officer in an attempt to collect money for a program that helps children in the community.
Police said someone called a woman and identified themselves as "Officer Bill from the Ormond Beach Police Department" to solicit money for Walmart's "Shop with a Cop" program.
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The woman told police that the caller said five boys and three girls needed sponsors and asked for a $100 donation for each child, according to the police report. She also said the caller told her that the average donation was $200 and that as a sponsor, she would get a decal for her vehicle, the report read.
Police said the caller told the woman that he would come in uniform and inside his patrol car to bring a tax write-off form and prove that it was legit. The caller asked the woman several times if she would commit to making the donation as soon as possible, according to the report. The woman told the caller that she would call back with an answer after she made a few calls, police said.
The woman then reported the call to police, as she said she thought it was suspicious and she wanted to avoid being involved in illegal matters, according to the report.
Police said they tried calling the number, but could not make contact with the caller. The scam is being investigated, police said.
Officers said that anyone who receives a similar call should not send money, but should instead contact authorities to file a report.