The Abbotsford Police Department (APD) is warning the public that a man trying to collect donations for amateur radio clubs is a fraudster.
Const. Ian MacDonald said the APD has received a few reports in the last month that a man has approached people and claimed to be involved with either the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) or Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC).
He has asked for a donation to support their work, but MacDonald said police have contacted those groups and neither solicits funds in this way nor do they have a member with the name that the man has been using.
MacDonald said ARES and RAC collect donations online through their websites, but are mostly funded by government agencies.
He said police are concerned that the fraudster is using the good work of ARES and REC to take advantage of others.
MacDonald said police consider these organizations partners in emergency response.
Certified volunteers provide a back-up communications system in the event of an emergency or disaster when other systems become unusable.
MacDonald said the fraudster has also purported to be other people of importance, including a social media marketer and a former Navy SEAL.
Police would like to talk to anyone who may have encountered the man or who has other information to share.
MacDonald said the man could face potential fraud charges.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the APD at 604-859-5225 or text abbypd (222973).