The Willcox Department of Public Safety (DPS) issued a fraud alert early Tuesday afternoon.
Chief of Police Jake Weaver said that a person is calling local residents and asking for donations to the Willcox Police Department.
“This is a scam,” he warned.
The caller claims they are raising money for the “officers of the police department,” and asking for “personal and financial information so that a donation can be made electronically,” Weaver said.
“If you receive a call or someone goes to your home or business asking if you would like to donate to the Willcox Police Department, do not give them any information, report the incident immediately to the Willcox Police Department,” he said.
The non-emergency number is (520) 384-4673.
“This is a scam, and the Willcox Police Department does not solicit donations,” Weaver said.
A fraud alert was sent to subscribers at 12:26 p.m., on Tuesday, Jan. 29.
In February 2012, the Willcox DPS signed up with Nixle Interconnect, which Weaver described as “a secure, web-based community information service.”
With it, the Willcox DPS is able to send “secure SMS text, e-mail, and web based notifications to participating citizens, in real time to their mobile phones, and e-mail accounts,” he said at the time.
This program is free – it does not cost the City or his department to participate in it.
Citizens can register to receive messages from the Willcox DPS and other local agencies by sending a text message with the 85643 zip code to 888777.
Weaver explained that the 85643 zip code was chosen because it encompasses the Willcox area, “instead of trying to limit it to the city limits.”
“Anybody that has the zip code 85643, whether they be in Kansas Settlement or the Bonita area – wherever the radius is for that zip code – once they sign up, they will be notified if we send out any alert messages,” he said.
“The registration process is very simple – take your phone and text message your zip code – 85643 – to 888777 and send,” said Weaver, adding, “You will get a response back from Nixle saying, ‘Congratulations, you are enrolled.’”
“It’s just a couple of steps and can be done in a matter of seconds,” he said. “Once completed, you will receive notification from the police department.”
Once the registration is sent, it takes about 10 seconds, and they are notified by text or via e-mail “should they choose to sign up with e-mail,” he said.
Online registration is available at www.nixle.com.