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donors beware

Legion’s Saskatchewan Command cautions against scams

Feb 6, 2019 | 4:51 PM

Members of the Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command want to ensure public donations toward the Legion’s Military Service Recognition Book are going to the real thing.

The Legion is collecting information and pictures of anyone who has served from Saskatchewan, past or present for the recognition book. That includes RCMP members, who are classed as veterans.

Melfort Legion president Bob Ellis told northeastNOW the Legion cannot solicit funds.

“What we’ve done is hired a company called Fenety [Marketing], and they do all that kind of thing for us, especially for this initiative,” Ellis said. “Then they send these books out to the Legion branches, and we are supposed to distribute them to schools, the police department, fire department, hospitals, and whatever. We only get about 25 for this community.”

Unfortunately, there have been some fraudulent calls.

“A lot of these scam artists come up and say they’re soliciting funds for the Legion. Well, that’s not true. These people aren’t supposed to say that, so if anybody does say that, you know it’s phony,” Ellis said.

Ellis said Fenety Marketing members will identify themselves when soliciting, and the Legion lists several ways to ensure that any donations would go to the appeal they are running.

1. Check the phone number they are calling from. If it is one of the following three, then rest assured it is safe.

· [306] 910-9682

· [306] 988-0413

· [306] 912-8933

2. Ask for an invoice in the mail or via email. Most scams will not send out an invoice. The Legion’s marketing team will do so if requested.

3. Ask the caller what it is for. They should state that it is for “The Military Service Recognition Book”.

4. Call the Legion’s command office if there are any issues. They should put you in contact with the proper people to receive the donation.

The release said the 2019 Military Service Recognition Book should be printed and distributed in the upcoming weeks.

cam.lee@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @camlee1974

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