Fake fundraisers have been trying to exploit the good name of Coastguard Bay of Islands to part people from their money.
The cold-calling scam has angered Coastguard volunteers, who say it could damage the group's hard-earned reputation as well as depriving real charities of money.
Coastguard Bay of Islands president Maureen Calkin described the phone calls eliciting donations as ''bloody cheeky''.
It was not known how many people had been called, or if the scammer had managed to get any money, but three calls had been reported to the organisation in recent weeks by people whose suspicions were aroused.
All calls were to homes in the greater Kerikeri area.