As the list of high-profile police shootings has grown in recent years and calls to defund the police have gotten louder, tensions between protesters and those who have rushed to the support of police some of whom have become part of a Blue Lives Matter movement have been building. When I googled the fund, a BBB caution was the first result. In a nationwide, federal-state crackdown on fraudulent telemarketers claiming to help police, firefighters, and veterans, the Federal Trade Commission, together with 61 Attorneys General, Secretaries of State, and other law enforcers of 49 states and the District of Columbia, today announced Operation False Charity. He said his father served in the Navy for nearly two decades and was always proud of his service. Stated that donations were not tax-deductible. A donation of $10, $15 or $25 would help keep . He could not answer. I was contacted in Wilton, CT by representatives of the National Police Support Fund. Also in Massachusetts, a Wilmington police officer received a call soliciting donations. With the generous support of readers like you, Times of San Diego publishes timely and accurate news coverage for a better-informed community. Being a generous person, she agreed to mail them $50. It also concerned him that so many prospects were elderly. National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues. The International Union of Police Associations and its related organizations go by more than a dozen different names, including the Police Officers Support Association and the National Emergency Responders Coalition. Whether the website is from the same sector as nationalpolicesupportfund.com or not, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission. We highly encourage our followers to verify who they are making donations to when contacted for fundraisers.. : r/Scams. It was raising money using four different police-oriented names (one association, two coalitions and one support fund). Just as you sit down to dinner, the phone rings and the caller asks for a donation. 2019 - The South African Department of Employment & Labour Disclaimer PAIA An IRS report was filed on July 26. What can we learn from the latest Coinbase cyberattack? 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. What should we investigate next? "The words police and words firefighter are not trademarked," Kemerer explained, "so it is very easy for scammers to use those names and create fake organizations. Woman suspicious after calls to help police. Here are the Top 7 Amazon scam calls. I told him that I had some questions for him before I would donate. But other charities lie about what they do with donations or how much they spend on programs. But then she started to worry, especially when she couldn't find the group listed as a charity anywhere online. This policy has been repudiated by a significant number of law enforcement leaders, whose experience has led them to conclude that it would make their communities unsafe. All Rights Reserved. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply. Also Check: How To File A Police Report For Id Theft, You May Like: How Do Police Deal With Homeless. The Wilmington Police Department has no association with this organization and we have never even heard of them, stated a May release from the department. The Police Unity Tour was founded in 1997 by Patrick Montuore, a police officer from New Jersey. They count on local press coverage and a quick website. Today, the organization has over 300 chapters across the country working to create positive change in local communities. Simple: less scrutiny. Another telemarketing employee reached by CNN in the Philippines confirmed this, saying he solicited money on behalf of the super PAC and the IUPA using audio recordings of someone who sounded like they were actually calling from America, and that most of the people they reached were elderly adding he felt it was a scam because they didnt realize what they were actually donating to. I should have been more aware that it sounded fishy and of course just saw the ScamPulse.com warning. "As Pennsylvanians look to support [] Campaign finance data, however, shows that about 98% of the money spent is not being used for this mission. The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities League was founded in 1940 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Asking for donations to the National Police Support Fund. You can find more information about "who is the National Police Support . 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. I asked if the donation was tax-deductible and he said no but could not elaborate as to why that was. Here are a few ideas to help you give safely: Con artists refer to what they do as a hustle. These charities usually rake in a few thousand dollars and disappear. Promoting divisive rhetoric is detrimental to the public safety mission that requires any genuine law enforcement organization to be accountable to its constituents. If you require additional information, then call us 1-800-247-4872 or email us at: [email protected] Your contribution is very much appreciated and although the International Union of Police Association is recognized as a non-profit by the IRS, due to its particular status (501 (c) 5), donations are not tax . AARP Membership - LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. Operators who are so susprised it's scam. 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. 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. The first thing I noticed was that I wasnt talking to live people; the answers all sounded scripted and recorded. So what happened to the other approximately 33% of . An employee who said he previously worked for two companies that raised money for Law Enforcement for a Safer America said that at his more recent job, callers were instructed not to disclose that they were calling on behalf of a super PAC. And some are outright scams. Its made up of series of regular steps timed to the beat of the music that can be improvised as needed. Oh, god, she said upon being contacted by CNN and learning how the money was spent, Im supposed to be smart, but boy was I a dope.. This section is used to influence public opinion in support of the interests of . Here are some things you can do to avoid donating to a fake charity: Pay attention to the charity's name. Email Blake Ellis and Melanie Hicken. Have a problem?Send me an email, at jmatarese@wcpo.com or message me on Facebook. IRS reports show that in 2011 alone, executive director Ken Howles drew an $87000 salary of the little money left over, only around 9-14% made its way into the hands of the troopers. I did satisfy my rather small donation at their website https://nationalpolicesupportfund.com . See the metrics below for more information. Get a FREE subscription to AARP The Magazine. Our grassroots organization was formed under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, which allows us to engage in political activity. 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. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription toAARP The Magazine. Post has been removed or is no longer public. As our conversation continued, the caller would lower the amount of funding he was requesting. I quickly identified over 70 super PACs with police or law enforcement in their names. Learn how vehicle tech like blind spot warnings and drowsy driving alerts can help make driving safer. It wasnt the usual automated call, and hearing a human voice kept me on the line. Contact us: contact@knowyourpolice.net, SCAM: National Police Support Fund donation, How To Get Insurance Information From Police Report, Is National Police Association Legitimate, How Many Years Of College To Become A Police Officer, Do You Need A Degree To Become A Police Officer, What Are The Steps To Becoming A Police Officer, How Many Hours To Become A Police Officer, What Education Do I Need To Be A Police Officer, How Do You Know If The Police Are Investigating You. I asked for the number so I could call back after I made my decision and he gave me the 1-866 number and said to call with any questions and thanked me for my time. A warning tonight about a phone and mail scam asking for donations. Fundraising calls are allowed even if your number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. The charitys programs focus primarily on education, mentorship, and athletic activities that empower youth. Years later, as the success of the . The National Police Support Fund has a website and even a Facebook page to make them look legit, but hundreds of articles pop up from sources like the Better Business Bureau, The National Police Foundation and more warning people NOT to donate to this organization. Are the money-gathering techniques these scam PACs use illegal? proudly complies with state regulations and required disclosures. Another useful fact: Organizations that file reports with the FEC have to list a treasurer. Contributions made to National Police Support Fund are not tax-deductible. Below are a few tips for screening for legitimate charities. I asked them to mail me a bill instead and they did , I called the phone number on the letter and did not get a respond so I decided to go to their website . He said his father has always leaned heavily Democratic, supported President Barack Obama and previously expressed strong anti-Trump views. I came across ScamPulse.com warning people about donating to the NPSF . In the wake of tragedies large and small, they pop up like mushrooms after a rain. UPDATE 2020-10-29: Another new call from 585-206-3552 with a similar pre-recorded voice auto-responder identifying as 'Jeff Scott' with the National Police Support Fund. Ive become suspicious after reading what they had to say . Super PACs generally have far fewer state-level reporting requirements and are regulated by the Federal Election Commission (FEC), which has fewer enforcement options than the IRS. They would have soundboards with prerecorded bits that would play and give the impression they were talking to a live person but in reality it was just someone playing bits off a soundboard, he said. The fundraisers connection to the charity. But none of the money being raised actually goes to police departments, according to government records. Please note that many legitimate local (and unaffiliated) police foundations and organizations may solicit donations from local communities via telephone and mail. Lots of different special interest groups are nonprofits, including some private businesses that pay their executives quite well. Simple web searches can show that the 'charitable organization' calling either 1 . You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. In fact, former employees of these types of fundraisers have testified about how they used soundboard technology to play prerecorded messages as responses, in part so they could talk to several donors at once. Andy Cottam is among the many who received the call. If your phone rings, it's not us. The BBB said days later, the New Jersey State Police photo had been removed from the site. Write the names of the shady businesses in the comments section below, too. For example, a very well known and respected group is the Make a Wish Foundation. On each call, my questions about how donations got spent mostly went unanswered. Years later, as the success of the program and its activities grew, six chapters on the east coast decided to convene and discuss how athletics could be incorporated into the organizations programs. This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.