The calls asking for donations come from aliases like the Police Officers Support Association and The National Coalition for Police & Troopers. Email us: watchdog@cnn.com. Unable to verify the federal tax ID, redirected to a toll-free number. The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities League was founded in 1940 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. nationalpolicesupportfund.com Review - Scam Detector After further investigation, they are not approved by the better business bureau and they have nothing but horrible reviews . 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. We highly encourage our followers to verify who they are making donations to when contacted for fundraisers.. But then she started to worry, especially when she couldn't find the group listed as a charity anywhere online. In two words, its not. National Police Association | Educating supporters of law enforcement On its donate page, the NPA boasts of its work to preserve the American way of life and fight back against cop-haters. and our We are just passing along the information if you get a suspicious call asking for money for police officers.. Scam Alert: Don't Fall for Phony Firefighter Fundraisers - AARP The website soliciting funds for Arpaio says, Liberals have targeted Sheriff Joe Arpaio with a multi-million dollar lawsuit because he was upholding the law of the land. Filed Jan. 29, 2020, 3:45 p.m. GMT. I also learned that they were sued in the biggest FTC case in history. Also worth noting is that while his organization is based in Virginia, and gets its mail in Stafford, TX, Fotis lives in Lake Worth, FL. American Association of State Troopers claims to support retired state troopers. 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. : r/Scams. Also Check: How To File A Police Report For Id Theft, You May Like: How Do Police Deal With Homeless. Bass, who set up several other super PACs, declined to comment. 2019 - The South African Department of Employment & Labour Disclaimer PAIA Law Enforcement for a Safer America officials did not return repeated requests for comment. Please let me know if there are any actions ScamPulse.com suggests I take other than ignore any future requests. In the report, National Police Support Fund reported about $61,000 in . In the wake of tragedies large and small, they pop up like mushrooms after a rain. Claire Reiss, 79, said she thought the more than $2,000 she donated would go to injured police and their families, but that she stopped giving away her money when the calls just wouldnt stop. Consumer Protection. Here are a few ideas to help you give safely: Con artists refer to what they do as a hustle. Please reload the page and try again. Gas station secured small business bailout money, then paid for Trump billboards, After learning from CNN that his 92-year-old father had given $1,200 to the super PAC, Curt Busse said that the donations were made as his fathers cognitive skills declined, making him a prime target for telemarketers. Authorities issue warning about pro-police mail scam - The Union Today, the organization has over 300 chapters across the country working to create positive change in local communities. What they do: ThePolice Unity Tour raises funds and awareness for members of law enforcement who lost their lives during their service. He could not answer. Simple: less scrutiny. Marine Toys for Tots Foundation (Triangle, Va.) Committee for Missing Children (Lawrenceville, Ga.) Prevent Child . 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. To raise awareness of Law Enforcement Officers who have died in the line of duty. (Santa Rosa, Calf.) And it's very easy to catch the eye of someone.". The application also included the name Police Officers Defense Coalition, as well as the Police Officers Defense Alliance. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. They count on local press coverage and a quick website. You May Like: Do You Need A Degree To Become A Police Officer. CONSUMER ALERT: AG Shapiro Warns of Scams Related to Donations for The PTRF/LEORF was created to provide specialized relief when, tragically, a law enforcement officer is killed in the line-of-duty or seriously injured in . The National Police Support Fund is a national coalition committed to promoting the interests of America's. If you require additional information, then call us 1-800-247-4872 or email us at: 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 5), donations are not tax deductible pursuant to IRC 170(c. A copy of our latest financial report may be obtained by writing to: The International Union of Police Associations, 5632 Bee Ridge Road, Suite 200 Sarasota, FL . Wow! I asked him if the organization supports Donald Trump. Is National police Support Fund legit? Enter address: This website, like most media sites, uses small files called cookies to anonymously customize the advertising that you see. Unless you want your money to go toward lawsuits , take my advice and find another charity to support although preferably one on another list to this one. Below are a few tips for screening for legitimate charities. BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - From unmarked strip-mall offices in small-town Alabama, the calls go out across the United States, meant to talk people into giving . Wendy Beckman got a call the other day from a man asking her to help retired police and firefighters. In researching the organizations, I discovered numerous similar-sounding names for PACs raising funds for police officers. Its been a tough couple years for local law enforcement. I started rifling through my mail as he gave me the same exact spiel this time saying he represented United Police support fund. Fundraising calls are allowed even if your number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. Javascript must be enabled to use this site. This includes marketing and outreach to supporters and communities, grassroots political efforts, and digital marketing efforts. If it is a scam they are awfully convincing on the phone but are also rather forceful. On each call, my questions about how donations got spent mostly went unanswered. 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items. According to the complaint, DPSF conned people into donating more than $9.9 million. Ways to contribute: You can contribute to the Police Unity Tour by donating through their website. See the metrics below for more information. For the record, on their website, it never calls itself a charity or non . In fact, as Ive previously , supporting law enforcement and supporting reform movements such as Black Lives Matter are not mutually exclusive. But these telemarketers bombarding our phone lines? Donations have surged to a 'scam' political group that claims - CNN Also Check: Do You Have To Pay For A Police Report. Follow John on Instagram @johnmataresemoney, For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com. 2023 Cable News Network. Last month the National Police Association (NPA) filed an ethics complaint against Rachael Rollins, the new district attorney for Suffolk County, Massachusetts (who recently . Investigation: Is National Police Support Fund actually a massive scam . Being a generous person, she agreed to mail them $50. Some tips for consumers: Listen carefully for the name of the organization. Get a FREE subscription to AARP The Magazine. If they are PACs, the fundraising effort is politically motivated and wont necessarily support San Diego-area officers or deputies or their families. These charities usually rake in a few thousand dollars and disappear. The robot voice saying the call would be recorded for record purposes sounded so real but it was just him. That means of a $35 donation, no more than $3.50 goes to their stated cause. Many donors say they believed they were supporting a charity that helps local officers. 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've asked them repeatedly to stop calling this typically results in additional calls back to back from different numbers. @GunOwners. Getting 3 to 5 calls a day from 315-410-0874 phone number. At times, I thought they were maybe misguided, he said. FTC Announces Operation False Charity Law Enforcement Sweep Virginia incorporation papers show James Fotis is president of the Alliance and changed the name to the Defense Coalition. How to report a scammer? The organization began as a service program providing mentorship and outreach activities to youth as a way to combat juvenile crime. This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies. Sara Kemerer of the . On 11/4 another local call came it was the same man! Find Best Charities To Donate | Charity Ratings, Reviews 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. 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. . . Police charity caution: How to know if it's a scam - WCPO Law Enforcement for a Safer America has raked in nearly $10 million in donations from January 2019 to June 2020 . Promoting divisive rhetoric is detrimental to the public safety mission that requires any genuine law enforcement organization to be accountable to its constituents. Montana Attorney General Tim Fox posted on Facebook last year about a call he received from Roy on behalf of the National Coalition for Police and Troopers. The VIRGINIA POLICE FUND is an advocate on behalf of law enforcement to ensure they receive adequate funding for proper training and equipment and to inform the public about the issues facing law enforcement.. Virginia's law enforcement officers are some of the best trained officers in the world, however, with the limited resources of local communities, outside professional training is . We'll send you the top local news stories every morning at 8 a.m. By clicking subscribe, you agree to share your email address with Times of San Diego to receive our free newsletter and breaking news alerts. Why does this matter? Their impact and transparency ratings: The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities League has an Accountability and Transparency score of 92 out of 100 from Charity Navigator. Please note that many legitimate local (and unaffiliated) police foundations and organizations may solicit donations from local communities via telephone and mail. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. Verify: Law enforcement charity phone calls - KSDK How a donation will be used, or how much of the donation actually goes to the charitys programs. Government documents show that the founding treasurer is currently an executive at the International Union of Police Associations. Multiple attempted calls from one number. 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. Only one replied directly: 90 percent went to fundraising, and 10 percent went to police support. BBB warns against National Police Support Fund - KFVS12 This would allow me a chance to talk to your wife about considering further contributions. Leaving politics aside for a minute, how do you know if those calls are legitimate? Concerns of Police Survivors. A warning tonight about calls targeting people around the Tri-State asking them to help support the police. Legitimate charities can be checked on websites such as www.guidestar.org. Ask if the donation is tax-deductible. 4 talking about this. Police association scam calls: Don't fall for it, says Bob Ziegelbauer By choosing the . 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I looked up one called Law Enforcement for a Safer America PAC, which seemed to be especially active, based on Nomorobos monitoring. 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. Stated that donations were not tax-deductible. Whether the website is from the same sector as nationalpolicesupportfund.com or not, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission. The mailing scam, which was identified in a CNN article last fall and had already targeted residents in eastern states including Massachusetts and Wisconsin, asks recipients of the letter to donate $20 to an organization misleadingly calling itself the "Police Officers Support Association, PAC" according to Grass Valley Police Sgt. In fact, they count on the confusion to gather contributions. Charities face relatively rigorous review from the Internal Revenue Service, and most states require them to register before they can operate there. The filings dont show how much the groups officials are directly benefiting from the political committee it created, and it is unclear why the group deemed it necessary to create so many different aliases to use for soliciting donations. Woman calls out scammer after hearing about it on the news That way, you avoid all of . If the potential donors suspected they had given to the group before, the callers were instructed to say: I have no way of knowing because we feel that donations are given from the heart, not the hand, so we keep all donation records confidential, according to the FAQ. The Police Unity Tour was founded in 1997 by Patrick Montuore, a police officer from New Jersey. Trump billboards along a desert stretch of highway near the border of California and Arizona were paid for by a small business that received a federal loan. When I asked which state this drive was for, the caller could not answer and instead said it is for a national charity. Free online workshop! Spokane-area residents question calls from national police - KREM If a charity is forced to move its headquarters to a new state on account of the dodgy dealings and underhand practices its been getting up to in its old home, anyone with any sense should know to keep well away, Unfortunately, the United States Deputy Sheriffs Association is well versed enough in manipulation to convince even the most well-meaning of folk that its still a cause worthy of their support. He organized the Police Unity Tour as a fundraising event to honor members of law enforcement who had lost their lives in the line of service. Charity Navigator - Rating for National Police Defense Foundation 'Scam PACs' Are On the Rise: Don't Confuse Them for Legitimate