By PATRICK BUCHNOWSKI
SOMERSET — Borough police are warning residents of a telephone scam they believe is originating overseas.
Phone solicitors believed to be of Middle Eastern descent are calling residents to solicit money for the Somerset Area School District’s renovation project.
“In this case, they called a school district employee who immediately recognized the fact the district was not doing fundraising of this type,” Somerset police Chief Randy Cox said.
The resident then notified police. School Superintendent David Pasterick told police the district does not solicit money in this manner.
The state Attorney General’s Office said many such scams also operate via e-mail as call centers are costly to run.
Scams often are tied to current events like raising money for victims of floods and hurricanes.
“It’s important for folks to be cautious and do your research,” said Nils Frederikson, spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office in Harrisburg.
Those receiving calls should request information in writing from the caller or the organization’s Web site, he said.
Residents who receive suspicious fundraising appeals can contact their local police or the Attorney General’s consumer protection hotline: (800) 441-2555.
Don't be fooled
Somerset area residents are being targeted by a phone scam that purports to solicit money for the school district’s renovation project. The district doesn’t ask for money that way. Some general tips:
• Do your homework on telemarketers. Those receiving calls should request information in writing from the caller or the organization’s Web site, according to a spokesman for the state Attorney General’s Office.
• Charities may solicit by telephone because they are exempt from the “Do Not Call” list.
• Organizations that receive more than $25,000 in donations must be registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State, which keeps a list of 10,000 charities. The agency’s Web site is dos.state.pa.us.
