Beware of police charity fraud phone solicitations

The Bowling Green Police Division received information regarding individuals calling area residents requesting money for the “BG Police Foundation.” The name Kirk Cowan will appear on the caller ID. Cowan is an employee of the police division; however, he is not making these calls. There are no police division employees calling residents to solicit money. Residents should not provide any information to these individuals.

Unfortunately, charity fraud is quite common in today’s digital environment, according to the police division. For more information on how to protect oneself from this type of fraud, please visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0085-fundraisers-calling-behalf-police-and-firefighters.

If you receive a phone call of this nature, please report it to the Bowling Green Police Division at 419-352-1131.