Suspected scammers turn out to be real American Legion

What was believed to be a telephone scam targeting senior citizens has actually turned out to be phone solicitations by an actual American Legion Post in Belle Chase.

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office began investigating the incident after several residents told police that they were contacted through the phone for donations from people claiming to be from the local American Legion Post.

The reason authorities believed it was a scam is because the residents, who were mostly senior citizens, were told to have the money ready so that it could be picked up at their homes.

When deputies contacted the local American Legion Posts, they were informed that they do not engage in telephone solicitation and personal pickup, according to Sheriff Greg Champagne.

But after further investigation, Champagne said it was learned that an actual American Legion Post out of Belle Chase is conducting the solicitations. That organization had not told the local American Legion that they would be seeking donations in St. Charles, he added.

“While we certainly support the efforts of the American Legion, we will discuss with the Belle Chase post the confusion that their effort is causing, especially when local American Legion representatives are not advised of their activities,” Champagne said.

Champagne said that people should never allow someone to come to their home to pick up a donation and should never give out their address or other information over the telephone. He added that most legitimate organizations solicit by mail.

“If they don’t, I would suggest you decline their request for donations,” he said. “It’s unsafe to allow anyone to come to your home knowing you are there and have money on you.”