These people called and left no message.  I guess they are only interested in making money.

I can tell you for a fact (because I have run a charity) that any charity MUST be registered with CRA, and they MUST have a distinct registration number issued by CRA that contains in it "RR".  If it does not, then it may be just a not-for-profit.  It can issue a receipt maybe, but you cannot use it to save on your taxes.  Some of these not-for-profits are just looking for handouts, by using a name that draws pity from unsuspecting "donors".   They are not as rigorously held accountable for how they spend their donated money.

If a charity IS registered, then I suggest you NOT donate over the phone until you see something IN WRITING with their charitable registration ID (the registration with the "RR" in it, issued by CRA).  Get the caller to SEND YOU a pledge form and some information on what they do.  When you get that, look for the registration number, and then LOOK THEM UP on the CRA website to see if they are not just faking it.  Then, if they are a legitimate charity, you can decide whether to make a donation.  

I really appreciate having all my calls now go to voice-mail.  This number calls frequently but never leaves a message.  So, no problem for me, except clearing out their five call records per week.  Obviously no thinking person would keep calling the same number after so many non-responses.  It is obviously some auto-dialer run by an idiot.  

I keep getting repeat calls from this number very annoying

I have now submitted a complaint to the CRTC, since we are on the Do Not Call list. These people are complete scumbags.

I believe these people are rude, liars, and performing scams.  They make statements that are not true.  Refuse to stop calling they seem to be the same persons from a group near Vaughn that was calling last year.  State they are police retirees of Ontario ??? questionable

They state they are police retirees for ontario and  they are campaigning for  funds. I have asked they remove my number from their calling list.  They continue to call.  They are very rude,  state untrue facts and do their best to acquire your credit card info.

They state they are police retirees for ontario and  they are campaigning for  funds. I have asked they remove my number from their calling list.  They continue to call.  They are very rude,  state untrue facts and due their best to acquire your credit card info.

These low lifes has called AGAIN with no message...
you call them and they request that we leave a message to them...

I certainly left a message on their machine..

Again.. I hope their ears are bleeding!

These people have called twice in past few days..

I have an answering machine and I screened it... THEY don't leave a message


I called back the number and they actually ask us to LEAVE them a message...

What a joke!  
I really gave it to them on their answering machine

I received a phone call from that particular number and I have an answering machine which I screen calls (after 2 rings)... This particular number just hangs up....

I called back the number and the guy says "if you leave a detailed MESSAGE"... I was really gave it
to them on the answering machine about why the hell do you want MY MESSAGE and you guys just hang up!

I called back and stated... you guys surely have call display so I told them off to take my damn phone number
off their no call list..

I made sure I was LOUD and CLEAR that whoever read the message have his/her ears bleed!

What about bunch of scum losers.   Claiming they are the Police helping needy kids with a Hero Bear program that is seeking donations.   Anyone working for this company making these calls should die an early death.  They lie and cheat under the belief good natured individuals donating for real causes could help these low life scum.  I allowed our daughter to ask him multiple questions to waste their time and they get pissed off, not even considering they wasted ours.  They don't even realize after duping someone, this hurts real charities.  

Hate Them!

Knowing these guys call all the time, I left the guy on hold.   He was so rude that I wasted his time and hung up.   Wondered how he felt that I wasted his time while he wastes mine trying to pull off this telephone scam.

Did not answer Never answer an area code I am not familiar with  But they sure are a pain

dec 27, still calling. no answer when I picked up phone.

Did not appreciate the very aggressive nature of the female caller asking for a $30 donation for the Bear Campaign. Would not take no for an answer.

I agree Hero Bears are not a scam when the fundraising is done by the Ontario Policy Retirees Assoc.
however,this approach is not acceptable as we assume it is from the above association.
as I used my credit card to make the "donation" I have cancelled the card and the credit card company is in the process of  reissuing a new card with different number,etc. so I am thankful for that.
This website should be more visible as If I had known about it before, it would have saved me being drawn into this donation.
Hopefully my credit card company will now be aware and can prevent others from making this mistake.It is very clever tho as most of us totally trust anything with "police" in it as we tend to think that makes it legitimate.

Soozi, so glad you have been so honest about what was going on as I did think it was tax deductible and that I would receive a receipt, I have filed a dispute with my credit card company and they are investigating further as the info the "organization" provided the credit card company with was a local phone number belonging to a lady who didn't know what they were talking about, so number not valid.
I am hoping these phone calls can somehow be released to all people as I didn't even know this site existed and I am sure many others are not, such as the lady who contacted the police station today as she must have had doubts, etc.

rec;d a phone call to make a donation to the Police Ontario Retirees re Hero Bear campaign.
made donation over the phone but then next day tried to contact Policy Ontario Retires by email address given on website and as well as a phonenumber.  no response was received.after a message sent via email,  and no response to me from the phonenumber also shown on website as listed  above is in the website for the retired police org.  I called the phone number, and emailed the website;but did not receive any response from either.
I am very concerned that this is a scam, as my credit card company requested further information  and found it was from the organizers of benefit performance,theatrical agents re tickets, etc.no mention of police retirees assoc or hero bear campaign  indicated on the charge of $100.00 on my card and the additional number given to my credit card company which was required for the donation to be process and to confirm their legitimacy as the info given by them was not specific, no names. they did get them to give them a phone number that was not in their records, etc. however upon calling it, which the credit card gave to me and I  found it belongs to a lady in Hamilton who when I called her indicated she knows nothing about donations nor the benefit which may be held or the hero bears campaign.  I also called local police station on the Mountain in Hamilton and the lady/constable? said I had to wait until Monday to check into a suspected fraud, when their staff was there,however she did indicate receiving another phone call earlier in the day from someone who had also given or was considering giving as you can do so in varied amounts 20, 40, 60,etc. but other than that she could be of no further help. Knowing others are investigating, I have now filed a dispute with my credit card company to further investigate this charge.I thought that the phone call was made by authorized representatives of the police retiree assoc.organization but it turned out it wasn't as the chargeon my credit card was not  a donation re hero bears, but was requested by " benefit organizer, theatrical agents, tickets, etc. according to the credit card company and they are also investigating this charge and the response given to them when contacted was not conclusive.

Tell those f****rs i have tracked them down and going to burn every one of them.

The number 1-877-389-9712 appeared on my call display. No message left

Well, let's clear some things up.
First of, are the Hero Bears a scam?  Apparently not.
Do the telemarketers make lots of mistakes when talking about the bears?  You betcha.
Are they affiliated with the OPP?  No.
Are the teddy (hero) bears a good idea?  I think so.
Does their website look like it's from 1997?  Yes

Don't bother answering!  The scum is trying to convince you their efforts is to help needy kids.  This is not a charity and they don't offer receipts.   So don't bother responding or answering, they will keep calling and try to create newer stories to part with your money.

see soozie's entry

worked for this firm.  many apologies to all of you.  these groups hire marketing and event planning firms to raisr money for their charities.  your sponsorship is not tax deductable.  call center employees make minimum wage and have a per hour quota to be met or marketing firm terminates your employment.  sadly that explains the aggressiveness of many of the callers and is why my employment was terminated.

This is not the Police!   Taxpayers pay for their salaries and benefits.   They do not solicit for Teddybears, Monuments, Fishing, Summer Camps or whatever scam!

Don't be fooled by these disgusting scum trying to scam your money for the greater good!

Called at 8:30 A.M. Rang once and hung up.

   Report this to the police !  I get 3 calls a day for the past three months. I have left a message three times to remove my # from the list and that's about all you can do.  Next step is the police and report it.
   They mention that they are raising money for a Police Sanctioned hockey tournament and that's all they have to say to get the police involved to stop this harassment.

They called, got me on the phone by asking my name and they got the right name but then hanged up. Never knew who they were and how got my number. called their number back, a recorded message said something about NHL tour continuing in Sarina region and that we could buy tickets!!

I just got this call, a man asking for my mother, her name is listed, I asked who he was and he said Police retiree, and I said she's not available, he said he will call back.  POLICE ARE PAID BY THE TAXPAYERS AND HAVE NO BUSINEES SOLICITNG FUNDS, THIS IS NOT ONLY ONLY ILLEGAL, IT'S A DISGRACE.  The Police should get involved in stopping this.  I blocked the number with my last caller screening feature.

Got call from this number alleging police looking for assistance with teddy bear program...to keep in cruisers and give to small kids who have been traumatized.  OPP have similar program.  However, are unlikely to use this fund-raising approach.