Phone Scam Alert

Dukes County Veterans Agent Jo Ann Murphy is cautioning Vineyarders to be wary of telephone solicitations to raise money for veterans.

Ms. Murphy said that she’s heard from a few people who have received the phone calls, but she has not been contacted about any fundraising endeavors that will go to Island veterans. “I haven’t heard anything,” she said. “Well, who are these people?”

“There are a lot of scams out there,” Ms. Murphy said. “I would just be leery of it.”

Ms. Murphy said one group that solicited on the Island last year raised $500,000, and of that, gave 15 per cent to veterans.

She said she is especially worried about older people who may be eager to donate to the cause. The fund-raising will “not help people here, as far as I know,” she said.