# Grrr. Fraternal Order of Police bugging me.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grrr-fraternal-order-of-police-bugging-me/382959
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [December 5, 2006, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grrr-fraternal-order-of-police-bugging-me/382959 "2006-12-05T18:23:04Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grrr-fraternal-order-of-police-bugging-me/382959/21 "2006-12-06T18:47:26Z")
[QUOTE=picunurse]
Here they sell tickets to the “Firemans’ Ball.” I have yet to meet a fireman who knew anything about a Ball.
[/Quote]
Reminds me of the joke/urban legend about the woman whose cat gets stuck up a tree and calls the fire department. When a firefighter arrives and rescues the feline, the woman says that out of gratitude, she’ll buy a couple of tickets to the Firemen’s Ball. The reply: “Ma’am, firemen don’t have balls … uhh … :o”.
> [@](#):
>
> Once, shortly after I met my husband, I thought about purchasing two tickets for us. When I asked when and where it was held, he told me the “tickets” were really just a donation, there wasn’t really an event. :dubious: When I said that sounded like mis-representation, he hung up.
My mom used to fall for similar scams – someone would call representing “Magical Puppet Show” or “Santa’s Winter Wonderland”, and tell her that her donation would cover tickets for either six children or herself and a guest. Naturally, the idea is that the mark will “think of the children”, and thus not ask for the location of the event, let alone try to show up for the performance.
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### Author:  [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grrr-fraternal-order-of-police-bugging-me/382959/22 "2006-12-06T20:11:59Z")
A different “police” organization called me today. I happily sent them packing. Thanks for the heads-up, everyone… I had learned from this message board that a way to see if these things are legit is to ask them to send you literature in the mail–which the FOP was of course happy to do. After I promised I’d pay them for it.
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### Author:  [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2006, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grrr-fraternal-order-of-police-bugging-me/382959/23 "2006-12-06T22:02:50Z")
Years ago I dated a guy who solicited these funds for a “living” I quote “living” because after I got to know him and his co-workers better, they didn’t do much eating or sleeping. More drinking and drugs. A previous poster was correct. This is big business. A representative goes to the FOP promising them a set amount of money by a set time and they keep the rest. The worst job were being given “cold cards” which are people like you. They just called randomly without much hope of a donation. If your boss liked you that particular day, he would give you hot cards which were suckers that have already donated. Those poor souls would be bugged day and night until they finally either had their number changed or continued to hang up enough times that someone ripped up the card. I would imagine you are going to be bothered for a while since you are now marked. In addition, if a business or individual gave cash, that would be marked, receipts stolen and they would be hit up for bar money as needed.
It’s disgusting and I am sorry I know these things. I dated some real winners in my twenties.
I actually laugh now when I get those calls as I think about the slime sitting in that phone room.
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