Fraudsters are calling residents in Greenfield Park, in Montreal’s south shore to ask for money for the annual Christmas baskets.
Robert Myles, Greenfield Park borough president, says the scammers are calling residents, then going to their homes to pick up donations — something the group collecting funds does not do.
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Myles notes one of the callers uses the pseudonym “Jean Potvin.”
“It’s terrible,” he said, adding that people involved in the collection have special permits from the city of Longueuil.
Myles points out door-to-door collection for the baskets takes place on just one day this year, which is Nov. 25.
“The people of Greenfield Park are one of the most generous sets of people and I think for the citizens to be defrauded like that its unfair,” Andy Walter Greenfield Park Christmas Basket president said.
Walter said volunteers will have a legal permit on hand when going going door-to-door on Sunday.
“You should ask the people to ‘Show me your permit’ which is issued by the city of Longueuil,” he said.
The campaign usually raises between $4,000 and $6,000.
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Longueuil police say they are looking into the situation, but have no leads so far.
They are asking people who are contacted by individuals over the phone to take down the phone number and call police.
“We want the people to hang up the phone immediately,” said Longueuil police spokesperson Mélanie Mercille.
“Do not give personal information to the suspect and call 911 right away to speak with a police officer.”