highest-volume phone messages in most major U.S. markets, A caregiver discovers questionable charities are targeting her parents for their money, Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term -43% off the standard annual rate, Access exclusive discounts, programs, & services, Double down with a FREE second membership. Stated that donations were not tax-deductible. American Association of State Troopers claims to support retired state troopers. Each organization says it is spending money for police officers being abused and unfairly targeted. Government documents show that the founding treasurer is currently an executive at the International Union of Police Associations. At least seven local police departments from around the country and a state attorney general have issued scam alerts and other notices about these fundraising efforts, warning residents in their communities as recently as this summer that they have no affiliation with this group. The I.U.P.A. One of the more successful scams is when the scammer poses as one of many charities benefitting Law Enforcement. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Law Enforcement for a Safer America does not disclose on its website who is running the super PAC, but public filings reveal that leaders of one of the countrys largest police unions are pulling the strings. Read Also: What Are The Steps To Becoming A Police Officer. That means of a $35 donation, no more than $3.50 goes to their stated cause, highest-volume phone messages in most major U.S. markets. Privacy Policy. But other charities lie about what they do with donations or how much they spend on programs. Read Also: Do You Have To Call The Police After An Accident, 2021 KnowYourPolice.net On 12/30/2018, I received a call from (862) 333-2411 from a man with a deep voice and a southern accent, who identified himself as Dan, if I would like to make a donation to the National Police Trust Fund. The usual claiming they were legitimate. He said his father has always leaned heavily Democratic, supported President Barack Obama and previously expressed strong anti-Trump views. Wendy is fine with that and will sleep better now. For the record, on their website, it never calls itself a charity or non . The FTC and charity regulators and law enforcement officials in every state have teamed up on more than 100 actions against dozens of fake charities, which have collected tens of millions of . The National Police Support Fund is a national political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. It turns out Police and Fire Retirees of Ohio is a legitimate non profit lobbying group, though it is not a charity under IRS rules. In the case of National Police Support Fund, we accept contributions and make expenditures in order to influence the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of candidates to federal, state, and local offices. How to report a scammer? . Hope Cancer Fund The Tampa Bay Times and The Center for Investigative Reporting broke the charities up into five main categories: children, cancer, police/law enforcement, veterans, fire and other. This particular super PACs treasurer is a former cop who was arrested for stealing $50,000 from the police union for which he served as president. For example, a very well known and respected group is the Make a Wish Foundation. The websites describe his career in law enforcement and his role as the creator of the police officers safety act legislation carried by former San Diego Congressman Randy Duke Cunningham. The organization began as a service program providing mentorship and outreach activities to youth as a way to combat juvenile crime. I should have been more aware that it sounded fishy and of course just saw the ScamPulse.com warning. They do disclose, however, that of the nearly $10 million raised, the super PAC gave more money back to the union roughly $350,000 for office, operational and overhead expenses than the $173,500 it spent on political activities between January 2019 and June 2020. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. I recently took about a dozen of these police-support calls to hear the pitches. That is equivalent to 2.7 percent of the $2.7 million the organization raised from donors that year, according to its federal tax return. He was donating to anyone who asked him for money, he said. He gave a range of donations to be made . Filed Jan. 29, 2020, 3:45 p.m. GMT. 4. The National Police Association advocates Support the Police, and Back the Blue, because Blue Lives Matter. Most of the money raised went to telemarketing 87 percent and other expenses. The NPAs immigration proposalAuthorizing local law enforcement officers to perform federal immigration law enforcement functionsis based on fear-mongering and a clear recipe for abuse and division. JW August is a San Diego-based broadcast and digital journalist. Three calls to his Virginia office for comment have gone unanswered as well as an email sent directly to his address listed in his filings with California. Can the police officers count on you?. Fake joke to start out. This Florida-based union touts its federal lobbying efforts on behalf of local members. Similarly, the Police Coalition of America, which promises "to enact positive change and legislation that protects our citizens as well as our law enforcement," spent $530,000 on . I again was transferred to another person who wanted my credit card info and stated due to covid they wanted to decrease handling and credit cards was the best way to donate. During the pandemic, a plethora of fraudulent websites came out like a plague. He said his father served in the Navy for nearly two decades and was always proud of his service. Another useful fact: Organizations that file reports with the FEC have to list a treasurer. The pop-up charity business is usually local, occasionally regional and rarely national. The rest of the money has gone primarily to the firms helping it solicit donations including nearly $3 million in payments to one telemarketing company sued by the government last month for allegedly using deceptive tactics. Now those same anarchists that rioted and assaulted law enforcement officers are using the Taliban playbook by destroying public statues and monuments while advocating for defunding law enforcement agencies, a narrator states in a video from July, as protests continued across the country. Many charities that help first responders like police officers and firefighters veterans, and active duty military, or their families, pay fundraisers to call donors or potential donors. The Better Business Bureau is warning about an organization that calls itself the National Police Support Fund which, despite soliciting contributions from St. Louis-area donors, isn't . In two words, its not. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription toAARP The Magazine. Email us: watchdog@cnn.com. He instead provided me with their national number. ', Fleeing Suspect Arrested on Trolley After Man Stabbed Multiple Times Downtown, San Diego Neo-Nazi Robert Wilson Suspected in Anne Frank House Incident, Sierra Snowpack Grows to Nearly Double Normal, Easing California Drought, Theatre Week Becomes Theatre Month Enjoy Deals As Low As $15 All Through March, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. With this in mind, the midterm election saw a new partnership between us, the National Police Support Fund, and the. A donation of $10, $15 or $25 would help keep . Learn how vehicle tech like blind spot warnings and drowsy driving alerts can help make driving safer. We found a website for them, but it gives very little information about the organization and their mission. Hispanic Federation (New York City) Abandoned Children's Fund. The matter now heads to the Senate, where the disapproval resolution may pass if every Republican plus rebellious Democratic Senator Joe Manchin (W.Va.) support the effort. A profit according to Investopedia.com is revenue that exceeds expenses. You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. The Police Unity Tour was founded in 1997 by Patrick Montuore, a police officer from New Jersey. Free online workshop! The cause sounds worthy: Please support your local firefighters (or police officers), the caller implores. He initially solicited $95 and eventually said he would accept a $15 contribution as an offer of goodwill on my part. Continuously redirected to the toll free number provided which cut out each time it was listed. This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies. Some telemarketers who claim to be raising money for causes like homeless veterans and cancer victims work for political action committees , not charities, and keep much of the money they raise. proudly complies with state regulations and required disclosures. Registration with any of these state agencies does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by any state. Do police call for donations? Trade groups like those that represent the fast food or soft drink producers operate as nonprofits. 2. I received a phone call asking me to donate to National Police Support Fund I was going to give them my debit card number over the phone but changed my mind at the last moment. Ways to contribute: You can contribute to the Police Unity Tour by donating through their website. The safest way to donate on social media or crowdfunding campaign is to give to people you actually know. So, the next time you get this call, hang up. It was found that only 2.7% of donations to the relief fund actually went to the families of fallen officers. The robot voice saying the call would be recorded for record purposes sounded so real but it was just him. It wasnt the usual automated call, and hearing a human voice kept me on the line. Read Also: What Are The Best Police Boots, Read Also: How Do I Become A K9 Police Officer. These charities usually rake in a few thousand dollars and disappear. If your phone rings, it's not us. And that is likely the point. I told him that there is no such thing as a National Police Trust Fund. National Police Association Inc. has earned a 60% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. . . As we stated earlier, these 50 charities account for almost $1 Billion in donations. After further investigation, they are not approved by the better business bureau and they have nothing but horrible reviews . National Police Support Fund is a national political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. I told him that I had some questions for him before I would donate. AiThority Interview with Lori Anne, Director of Product Development & Management at Verizon, Branded Caller ID: The Pros And Cons In The Battle Against Phone Scams, A New Scam Is Making the Rounds Just in Time for Tax Season, Smishing: The new year is here and so are new scams. To promote the prevention of juvenile crime and violence by building relationships among kids, cops and community through positive engagement. This group purports on various websites that donations are being used to back candidates who will stand up for police and introduce legislation to help officers and provide benefits to families who have lost loved ones in the line of duty. The calls, which often target elderly donors, come from a variety of generic and similar-sounding aliases: The Police Officers Support Association, the National Emergency Responders Coalition and the National Coalition for Police & Troopers. appreciated. If you want to donate money for your police or fire department, send your contribution to the local sheriff or chiefs directly. This would allow me a chance to talk to your wife about considering further contributions. For more information, please see our The organization also participates in advocacy work to emphasize some of the dangers law enforcement officers face, and the sacrifices they make to protect society. And Law Enforcement for a Safer America appears to be cashing in. What they do: ThePolice Unity Tour raises funds and awareness for members of law enforcement who lost their lives during their service. @GunOwners. Post has been removed or is no longer public. Below are our favorite charities for law enforcement: National Police Foundation. If it is a scam they are awfully convincing on the phone but are also rather forceful. Many of these names could easily be confused with public charities, such as Autism Speaks, National Association of Police Organizations, or Veterans Assistance Foundation. The call was spoofed to appear to be from [a] Montana phone number, he wrote, noting that the caller did not identify the group as a political action committee, or super PAC, and telling his followers that it was not a nonprofit so donations are not tax deductible. We strive to engage the public through political grassroots activity to support political interests that promote officer's interests. Years later, as the success of the . The fundraisers connection to the charity. We don't engage in telemarketing. Once it was blocked through my service provider, an additional phone number began to call my home multiple times a day. A union receptionist also confirmed to CNN that the super PAC is run by the union, but union leaders did not respond to repeated calls, voicemails and emails that laid out the concerns from other police departments and donors and asked why so little of the $10 million raised went toward political activities. Just hang up. I also learned that they were sued in the biggest FTC case in history. Type of a scam Charity. FEC filings show that of the group's minimal political spending, most has gone toward pro-Trump advertising such as billboards. We do not support nor do we condone this group, the post stated. January 11, 2019. We warn against them because they come off as supportive of the Greenfield Police Department, or the local police, and yet they do not do anything for us, said police Chief Robert Haigh Jr. These tend to be monies for their own agendas, and not based on the locals. But whats the truth. The first one, the texh . These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. The latter is the name of the PAC I found earlier that had raised $3.2 million in contributions. Consumer Protection. President Trump pardoned the sheriff even after the Department of Justice described Arpaio as being responsible for the worst case of racial profiling in U.S. history. While some donors believe they are donating to . Multiple attempted calls from one number. Just want you notified that they are calling on area code 203 #s in CT now. We support police officers who risk their lives daily protecting our communities. With tales of woe and heartbreaking images of children or helpless animals, they beg for assistance. This section is used to influence public opinion in support of the interests of . See the metrics below for more information. Here are a few ideas to help you give safely: Con artists refer to what they do as a hustle. Read our full report on the organization here, https://bit.ly/3xMbldo. This comes at a time when some community activists have been calling for defunding the police. Gotten calls like this? Im calling on behalf of the National Save the Police Fund,* the voice on the phone told me. So have we all. The Better Business Bureau conducted an investigation and found . What should we investigate next? Learn more about how we use cookies in our cookie policy. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. All Rights Reserved. This comes at a time when some community activists have been calling for "defunding" the police. By choosing the . Im calling on behalf of the National Save the Police Fund,* the voice on the phone told me. Campaign finance data, however, shows that about 98% of the money spent is not being used for this mission. The scenario is all too familiar. He seemed okay with it. Soft on Crime groups are targeting record numbers of individual law enforcement officers in law suits for police brutality. It appears there are a number of nonprofits up and running under the apparent control of Fotis. Also Check: How To File A Police Report For Id Theft, You May Like: How Do Police Deal With Homeless. The fund is the third in a series of outrageous attempts by founders David Dierks and Phil LeConte to extort money from generous Americans under the pretext of donations to the nation's police forces. Mostly they are the products of individual scammers who smell an opportunity to cash in using the name of a victim who may or may not even be real. According to an analysis by The Center for Public Integrity (CFPI), the names of some of these "scam PACs" are listed below. This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies. Why does this matter? I've asked them repeatedly to stop calling this typically results in additional calls back to back from different numbers. The answer is that, in many cases, these arent charities at all. Groups like Antifa and Black Lives Matter have inspired people to assassinate cops on the street. To raise awareness of Law Enforcement Officers who have died in the line of duty. Andy Cottam is among the many who received the call. Gifts to actual charities are donations to PACs, which sometimes sound like charities, are not. Never disclose personal information. Or follow the simplest rule: Never give to anyone over the phone, said Margot Saunders, senior counsel for the National Consumer Law Center. The organization also has a Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. Only one replied directly: 90 percent went to fundraising, and 10 percent went to police support. 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items. Tax records show the Fotis organization that phoned me raised $75,000 in 2021, up from $50,000 the year before. The first thing I noticed was that I wasnt talking to live people; the answers all sounded scripted and recorded. As a result, he had a positive outlook on military and all law enforcement officers, Busse said, but he never expressed any particular interest in supporting the police through financial donations.. Our grassroots organization was formed under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, which allows us to engage in political activity. National Police Defense Foundation has earned a 81% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. Get a FREE subscription to AARP The Magazine. Find out now: How much do I need to save for retirement? The result: a rise in super PACs that use sympathetic-sounding causes primarily to line their own pockets (the FEC has called this subset scam PACs). We are just passing along the information if you get a suspicious call asking for money for police officers.. A secretive political group has been pulling in millions of dollars in recent months amid a growing Blue Lives Matter movement, with a cadre of telemarketers urgently telling Americans that now is the time to support the police and keep them safe. "Being that it was a recording right off the bat . 4 talking about this. It also concerned him that so many prospects were elderly. First Responders Children's Foundation. The union has previously come under fire for hiring allegedly deceptive telemarketers and costly fundraising efforts that benefited its own organization and a police charity it operates. National Association of Police Athletics/Activities League. Below are a few tips for screening for legitimate charities. In fact, they count on the confusion to gather contributions. In about 7 years (through March 2018), the union and relief fund spent a total of approximately $102.3 million, of which $82.3 million went towards fundraising. The case has not yet been resolved. We support police officers who risk their lives daily protecting our communities.

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