The request was only $12 but something didn't seem right.
That's what Sheila Porth, of Fort Dodge, said when she received a call from someone claiming to be from the Amber Alert program.
She said they were very insistent that she had to donate within a two-week period.
Porth said she asked a couple of questions - questions that she felt should have been easily answered by someone working with Amber Alert.
"Some of the things they said just didn't make sense," Porth said. "I've had a lot of calls about donations but this one just didn't seem right."
And it shouldn't have, said Assistant Police Chief Kevin Doty, Fort Dodge Police Department.
"Amber Alert is done through the dispatchers," he said.
According to the State of Iowa Amber Alert Web Site, the program is a cooperative effort between law enforcement offices and local broadcasting stations to alert the public of the abduction of a child. They do this through public service announcements, much like weather warnings, something that is funded through the government.
The Amber Alert system has never solicited the public for donations, said Webster County Sheriff Brian Mickelson.
"If someone is asking for a donation, they will never ask for your financial information over the phone," Mickelson said.
Doty said someone looking to scam people will likely attempt older people who are more likely to believe someone calling them. But no one should ever give out credit card information over the phone when someone calls them looking for donations, they should always ask for information first.
Even just a small amount, when given by a lot of people, can spell big profit for scam artists, Mickelson said.
"If you're never sure about something, ask for their name and a number you can call back," said Mickelson. "Nine times out of 10 they will say no and hang up if they're out to scam you."
Porth said she did try to call them back using "*69."
"Their number came up (000) 000-0000," she said. "You can't call them back."
Porth said she just wanted to watch out for other Fort Dodge residents who may fall into the trap she so carefully avoided.
''It just didn't seem like an honest situation,'' she said.
Contact Katie Williams at (515) 573-2141 or katie@messengernews.net