OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Public safety officials are warning residents about a phone scam in which the caller claims to be raising money to help police officers.

The Scarborough Police Department reported last week on Facebook that the Scarborough Dispatch Center, which serves the town of Scarborough and Old Orchard Beach, received several calls from residents in the two towns reporting that they had received a phone call asking for money for a police support fund.

Police advise people not to give money to these callers, as they are not who they claim to be.

Maine law puts restrictions on solicitations from law enforcement agencies, including prohibiting police officers to ask for money to benefit their department.

“Maine law enforcement legally cannot fund raise for their departments. Please be cautious as this appears to be a scam again in our area,” stated Scarborough police.

The Old Orchard Beach Police Department reported a similar scam less than a year ago which involved a caller identifying himself as a representative of the American Police Officer Association conducting a fundraiser for the Old Orchard Beach Police Department.

In late 2017, the Saco Police Department said residents had reported similar calls from someone claiming to be with the Maine Association of Police soliciting money to help the police with budget issues and a shortage of police officers.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be reached at 780-9015 or by email at egotthelf@journaltribune.com.

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