Champaign Police phone solicitation?

Posted November 4th, 2009 at 06:13 PM by wayward
in

I got a call this evening, which the caller ID showed to be coming from the Champaign Police Department.  It was someone soliciting donations for what was apparently a police-related nonprofit.  I got one or two similar calls last month from what appeared to be the CPD (217-356-7093).

Not that I have anything against the FOP or police lodges, but is it a good idea to use police department phones for solicitation?  I'm almost at the point where I've learned not to answer calls from the police department, and I'd assume others may be having the same reaction.

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On November 4th, 2009 at 06:35 PM, Anonymous (not verified) said:

I don't know this to be true, but is it possible that a call center somewhere else is using a CPD number just so it will seem legit? I don't think it's necessarily a scam, but maybe it makes people feel like it's actually the CPD making the call. I know when the Urbana FOP used to solicit for funds for their annual NFP, it was actually a third party telemarketing firm on the other side of town that was making the calls.

On November 4th, 2009 at 07:00 PM, wayward said:

There may be some way to fake the number on the caller ID - not sure.  However, it still doesn't seem like a good thing to have telephone solicitations appearing to come from a CPD number.  If nothing else, I'd expect that it will train at least some people not to answer phone calls when they see "Champaign Police" on the caller ID.

On November 4th, 2009 at 07:08 PM, Anonymous (not verified) said:

CPD numbers start with 403 prefix. You can call the front desk at 3514545 or 351 4548 however, the outgoing calls are the 403 prefix.
A check of that number only shows it to be an Ameritech land line.

On November 4th, 2009 at 07:28 PM, wayward said:

OK, I called the number and it was just the Fraternal Order of Police.

Politicalchemy's picture
On November 5th, 2009 at 11:06 AM, Politicalchemy said:

I got a similar solicitation a few days ago and noticed the number had a 403 prefix.  I didn't attach any significance to it at the time, but thanks for the information.

Dan Fielding's picture
On November 5th, 2009 at 07:19 PM, Dan Fielding said:

I think I got three of these in October.

On November 6th, 2009 at 01:57 PM, moongrrl (not verified) said:

I used to get those when I had a land line. They're usually looking for donations for their take a kid Xmas shopping program, IIRC.

On November 6th, 2009 at 02:31 PM, Run4cvrlib said:

They do that every year they are just trying to raise money to take kids that wouldn't get a christmas present Xmas shopping.