Cumbria Police are reminding local people that they never request money from businesses or residents - directly or via a third party.
A business owner in the South Lakes - who's not been named, recently reported a repeat cold-caller, who said they were working in collaboration with the police and seeking donations.
PCSO Emma Forrester said: "Cumbria Police can confirm that these calls are not affiliated to the force and that the Constabulary would never request money from businesses or members of the public, either directly or through a third party.
"The Constabulary advise people to ignore or hang up calls of this nature. Anyone genuinely working with the Constabulary will be able to provide details of the officer or staff member within the Constabulary who they are working with. You should never part with any money until completely satisfied that the person you are speaking to is genuine. If they are, they will provide such details, and allow you time to check them out.
"If calling the police for such purposes, do so from a different phone, as the caller may not have hung up, and should you try calling 101, you may speak to that caller again!"