The Ontario Provincial Police are reminding people to verify the legitimacy of any organization that attempts to solicit funds from the public.
Recently, several OPP detachments received a number of inquiries from residents asking about police-related organizations calling to solicit funds for its Community Bear Program.
Through sponsorship, OPP officers give black and white teddy bears to children they encounter when faced with traumatic situations such as motor vehicle collisions.
The OPP says while many officers are involved in worthy charities on their personal time, they don’t solicit funds from members of the public for its Community Bear Program or any other OPP program.
They also say that any aggressive incidents of soliciting funds can be reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by dialing 1-888-495-8501 or through their website.
