Friday, December 29, 2006

Beware of Charity Scams

City Police would like to remind the public to be aware of charity scams that may be soliciting in our area. Yesterday City Police received a complaint from a citizen in regards to someone who was asking for donations and also advised that he was taking these donations of money on behalf of the City Police to provide to the poor. The Sault Ste Marie Police Service is currently not running a charity for the poor.

The following are a few tips people should take to avoid charity fraud:

• Give directly to a known charity of your choice, especially to local charities.

• Ask telephone solicitors to send written information. Ask whom exactly the caller is fundraising for and where they can be reached for further information. Ask exactly what percentage of your donation will go for the charitable purpose.

• Contact the agency the caller or person is supposedly representing and find out if they are fundraising at that time.

• Don't be fooled by "look-alike" names that make the so-called charity sound like known reputable health or law enforcement organizations.

• Never send cash through the mail and don't give your credit card number over the telephone unless you are certain the charity is legitimate.

Youth Charged in October 2nd Assault

Yesterday just after 9pm City Police arrested a male believed to be responsible for an assault, which took place on the 2nd of October this year. The 17-year-old youth who cannot be named is believed to have attacked another male who was not known to him while the victim stood standing waiting for a bus on Korah road. The 17-year-old youth, who attacked the victim for no apparent reason, kicked and punched him and was trying to provoke him to fight back. The assault only stopped when a city bus arrived at the scene. The accused then left the area on foot. The accused was arrested at his residence and has been charged with 1 count of assault and 1 count of breach of probation as he was on conditions to keep the peace and be of good behavior. He is to appear in court on the 30th of January.

Echo Bay Man Charged with Breach

23-year-old Brain Wing of 313 Government road Echo Bay Ontario was arrested yesterday afternoon just before 4:30 at a residence in the east end of the city. The accused that was wanted on a first instance warrant has been charged with 2 counts of breach of probation order and 1 count of unlawfully at large. It’s alleged that the accused who was bound by a probation order to surrender himself to the jail at 8pm each Friday starting July 28th fail to comply with this order. He is to appear in bail court this morning.