Crime & Safety

Police Donation Scammers In Haddonfield Area Could Face State Sanctions

The New Jersey Police Foundation has been soliciting money without the necessary credentials, authorities said.

A group that has been cold-calling Camden County residents, claiming to solicit donations for local police departments, has been put on notice by the state Division of Consumer Affairs for violating state statutes, Camden County Prosecutor Warren W. Faulk said.

The New Jersey Police Foundation (NJPF), a group which includes two former Camden Police officers, is telling residents it's raising cash to outfit every police department in the state with at least one bulletproof vest—only every department in the county already issues body armor to all its officers, and the calls are a scam, Faulk said.

“Law enforcement agencies in Camden County are not cooperating with the New Jersey Police Foundation and are not seeking donations for body armor at this time,” he said Tuesday.

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Consumer Affairs officials hit the organization in December for violating New Jersey's Charities Registration and Investigation Act, as the NJPF isn't actually sanctioned by Consumer Affairs, and the group could face fines and penalties as a result, Faulk said.

Faulk's office has also received complaints of possible criminal violations by the NJPF, which has solicited cash by phone and mail, he said.

Find out what's happening in Haddonfield-Haddon Townshipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Local departments, including the Camden County Police and Voorhees Police, started warning residents about the NJPF's alleged scam at the end of December.

Callers have been using the phone number 856-396-9549, alternately identifying themselves as the NJPF, Camden County FOP or Camden County Metro FOP.


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