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Manhattan FPD does not ask for donations by phone
The Southtown Star recently published a warning about a fraudulent fundraising campaign pretending to represent the Manhattan Fire Protection District (FPD). The scam involved a caller falsely claiming to be raising money for firefighters, but ended up contacting the wrong person — Captain Gerald Kinsella of the Manhattan FPD.
According to the article, a woman who introduced herself as “Cindy†called Kinsella and asked him to donate to the Manhattan Firefighters Association. He quickly realized something was off, as the department does not engage in phone solicitations. Instead of hanging up, he played along to gather more details.
During the call, she offered different donation levels: $100 for "red," $50 for "white," and $35 for "blue," depending on what he felt comfortable with. When Kinsella asked her to send information, she became evasive. She claimed they needed a specific amount to issue a tax-deductible receipt, which raised further red flags.
Kinsella later shared the details with Chief Dan Forsythe, noting that the entire interaction felt suspicious. He pointed out that scammers could be using local numbers with the 478 prefix to target residents, making it easier to trick people into donating.
Dawn Cupples, the public education coordinator for the fire district, confirmed that the department never asks for donations over the phone. Instead, they send out an annual fundraiser letter in the coming month, inviting residents to buy tickets for a summer event. Donations are collected via mail, not by phone.
“We want people to know what we actually do and what these fraudsters are trying to pull,†Cupples said. “They’re using our name to get money, and that’s not acceptable.â€
The woman who called Kinsella claimed to be working with a Joliet-based organization, but the group's vice president denied any involvement, stating that their work is limited to churches and schools and that they don’t conduct phone solicitations for firefighters.
Cupples urged residents to be cautious and avoid giving money to anyone calling on behalf of the Manhattan Firefighters Association. She emphasized that no official representative would ever ask for donations over the phone.
If you receive such a call, hang up and report it. Stay alert — your safety and financial security matter.
Thanks, Dan.