Search and rescue warning people to be vigilant if asked for financial donation

KAMLOOPS – A warning is going out to anyone considering donating to search and rescue teams as scammers to ensure they aren't being taken by a scam.

The B.C. Search and Rescue association is warning people that often scammers will call people this time of year asking for donations on behalf of the provincial or local search and rescue teams. Alan Hobler, with the Kamloops Search and Rescue team, says the organization never does direct telephone solicitation for donations.

“KSAR definitely doesn’t use phones,” he says. “We’ve got other funding sources now.”

In the past he says there were scammers trying to collect money through vending machines that they claimed was going to his organization but that hasn’t happened for a number of years now.

Some agencies do collect donations on behalf of Kamloops Search and Rescue. If you’re interested in donating to the Kamloops Search and Rescue, though, Hobler says the most direct way is to visit their website.

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