January 11, 2019. It was found that only 2.7% of donations to the relief fund actually went to the families of fallen officers. Simple: less scrutiny. We use the funds raised from these activities to support elected officials, candidates, and organizations whose goals and values align with our own. Type of a scam Charity. 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. The safest way to donate on social media or crowdfunding campaign is to give to people you actually know. Multiple voices could be heard in the background. He said he ultimately left because he didnt feel like he was supporting the charitable efforts he had hoped to seeing a shift toward fundraising for PACs instead of charities and observing how little of the money went to the causes callers were touting. The former employee, who asked to remain anonymous because of a nondisclosure agreement, said he remembered fundraising companies outsourcing some of the telemarketing overseas to locations like the Philippines, where they relied on recordings instead of live agents. Help us grow with a monthly contribution. Law enforcement has a tough enough job without having to put up with charlatans masquerading as heroes. National Police Support Fund is dedicated to providing a united voice for true Americans who support our nation's law enforcement officers. I came across ScamPulse.com warning people about donating to the NPSF . See the metrics below for more information. 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. I started rifling through my mail as he gave me the same exact spiel this time saying he represented United Police support fund. Free online workshop! and our I have asked 5 times to be removed from their call list, but they are still constantly calling, at this point it is harassment and it needs to STOP! I told him I did not have any money to donate at the moment. He of course provided a non-reassuring answer with no defence when the jig was up, and ended the call. While some donors believe they are donating to . As an example, he cites former Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County in Arizona. Of those who gave more than $200, which are required to be disclosed to the federal government, roughly 80% were retirees, according to an analysis of the data. 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. Has anyone else recently seen an uptick and calls from various police support organizations? FEC filings show that of the group's minimal political spending, most has gone toward pro-Trump advertising such as billboards. 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 . One of Fotis websites solicits money for individuals who were guilty of a crime for doing their job the way they were trained to do it. As an example, he cites former Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County in Arizona. The National Police Support Fund is a legitimate organization that supports the interests of America's law enforcement officers. Entire local police unions, which negotiate collective bargaining agreements for their members, can choose to affiliate with the group. Among the other warnings: The Miami Township Police in Ohio issued a scam alert in June referencing calls circulating from a Police Officers Support Association asking for credit card donations. The Reading Police Department in Massachusetts described the Police Officers Support Association as a scam charity last year. By choosing the . Legitimate charities can be checked on websites such as www.guidestar.org. Ask if the donation is tax-deductible. The cause sounds worthy: Please support your local firefighters (or police officers), the caller implores. Im calling on behalf of the National Save the Police Fund,* the voice on the phone told me. Learn about the latest anti-police movement, Download our 2022 police ballot measures analysis, Download our 2022 law enforcement support guide, Virginia Election Ad by National Police Support Fund, Pro-Police Organizations Worked Together to Get Out the Vote & Boosts Conservative Turnout in NoVa, https://nationalpolicesupportfund.com/terms-of-service/. And cops are facing increasing disrespect on the streets as criminals have become emboldened by the wave of anti-cop rhetoric in the news media and by many politicians. AARP Membership - LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. 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. Instead, theyre independent, expenditure-only political action committees, or super PACs. Fundraising calls are allowed even if your number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. I looked up one called Law Enforcement for a Safer America PAC, which seemed to be especially active, based on Nomorobos monitoring. I told him that there is no such thing as a National Police Trust Fund. At times, I thought they were maybe misguided, he said. I told him that I had some questions for him before I would donate. They are the tragi-charities. Multiple attempted calls from one number. The charitys programs focus primarily on education, mentorship, and athletic activities that empower youth. That same tax year, the International Union of Police Associations gave 10 students pursuing advanced degrees in law enforcement an average of $2,500 apiece. One very common hustle is the name game. I have asked 5 times to be removed from their call list, but they are still constantly calling, at this point it is harassment and it needs to STOP! While there are no requirements dictating the percentage of money that must go toward political activities, campaign finance expert Rob Pyers has dubbed the group a Scam PAC because of its high operating expenses and negligible political spending. The recording says it is "Kenneth Allen from the National Police Support Fund" and they are asking for donations. PPF has been sued by regulatory agencies in at least six states, including California, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri, and was fined $463,000. Super PACs are able to raise unlimited amounts of money, which they can use to advocate for political candidates or causes. Can the police officers count on you?. The Police and Troopers Relief Foundation (PTRF) is a special program within the Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund (LEORF), established by the International Union of Police Associations. Here is the BBB caution: https://www.bbb.org/stlouis/news-events/bbb-warnings/2017/national-police-support-fund/, https://www.bbb.org/stlouis/news-events/bbb-warnings/2017/national-police-support-fund/. The BBB said days later, the New Jersey State Police photo had been removed from the site. When I googled the fund, a BBB caution was the first result. According to the complaint, DPSF conned people into donating more than $9.9 million. Wow! 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). 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. We won't use your email for any other purpose, and you can opt out at any time via an unsubscribe link. Please note that many legitimate local (and unaffiliated) police foundations and organizations may solicit donations from local communities via telephone and mail. This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies. "The National Police Support Fund is neither a 501(c)3 nor a 501(c)4 organization, but rather a political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. Key battles deserve tight alliances. A Warner Bros. Filed Jan. 29, 2020, 3:45 p.m. GMT. Gotten calls like this? We are entering the crucial last minutes of our ongoing struggle to defend police officers. 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. So I would like to say just beware of scammers , Ive copied the letter I received so in hopes that people will know not to donate unless you are 109% sure it not a scam. When I asked which state this drive was for, the caller could not answer and instead said it is for a national charity. National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues. These Are the 9 Best Charities for Law Enforcement in 2023. FEC regulations state that political committees can only deposit a contribution into their account if that money came from a solicitation which expressly states that the contribution will be used in connection with a Federal election or the solicitation discloses that contributions are subject to federal election law. Whether the website is from the same sector as nationalpolicesupportfund.com or not, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission. I confronted him that if they were legit, why it was that they are labeled as a scam operation. 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. And some are outright scams. To promote the prevention of juvenile crime and violence by building relationships among kids, cops and community through positive engagement. If you want fundraisers to stop calling, ask them to put you on the charitys do not call list. . Post has been removed or is no longer public. 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. Please reload the page and try again. Ask for information, check sites like Charitynavigator.org and then if it all checks out, write that check. Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps"). Many of the other complaints to the FTC about the political committee and its related groups said fundraisers used spoofed numbers and violated the law by calling them even though they were on the Do Not Call list, while others said they had been misled or even harassed by fundraisers. He paused for a few seconds and said "okay, bye" and hung up the phone. To raise awareness of Law Enforcement Officers who have died in the line of duty. 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. According to an analysis by The Center for Public Integrity (CFPI), the names of some of these "scam PACs" are listed below. I asked him where the money goes. He seemed okay with it. Up to June 2020, only 2% of the groups spending went toward political activities mainly for advertisements supporting President Donald Trumps reelection, according to data filed with the FEC. And that is likely the point. 2023 Cable News Network. This section is used to influence public opinion in support of the interests of . National Police Support Fund - Alexandria, VA. An elderly man in Trenton, Mi., received a dire letter that warned of the greatest threats to our public safety in our nations history. It was raising money using four different police-oriented names (one association, two coalitions and one support fund). He said that although it is more expensive for super PACs to solicit small donations which is what this one is doing spending so much on operations and so little on political activities is unusual. 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 . While several recordings uploaded online show that some callers have briefly mentioned the term PAC or have said that the group is supporting efforts to elect lawmakers to advocate for certain issues, the Montana attorney general wasnt the only person to say the group hadnt identified itself as required. Up until the latest tax year when the groups appear to have changed how they categorize certain expenditures the pattern was largely the same from year to year: A small number of families received a couple thousand dollars apiece top employees of the union received more than $100,000 apiece and tens of millions went to telemarketers. Our movement is comprised of tens of thousands of Americans from all walks of life who are joined together by their common respect for the rule of law and united in their support for the police officers who put their lives on the line every day in their communities. But whats the truth. I did satisfy my rather small donation at their website https://nationalpolicesupportfund.com . Also Check: How To File A Police Report For Id Theft, You May Like: How Do Police Deal With Homeless. What they do: The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities League aims to minimize juvenile crime through outreach programs that pair officers with youth. 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. 7:35 AM EDT, Fri October 16, 2020. You read that correctly. Discovery Company. 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. On each call, my questions about how donations got spent mostly went unanswered. Charity hustles work the same way. I asked him if the organization supports Donald Trump. The Police Officers Defense Alliance, for example, raised $3.2 million in 2020, and The American Police Officers Alliance raised $4.3 million. After further investigation, they are not approved by the better business bureau and they have nothing but horrible reviews . 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. 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 . I said I do not donate over the phone, he said I did not need to they would mail me a pledge kit. Some tips for consumers: Listen carefully for the name of the organization. And soon, you say, sure, why not? Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. It appears their lack of transparency regarding where the money goes was the reason for the BBB caution. Our mission is to promote the interests of our nation's police officers within our nation's political and public policy process. And the Morton Police Department in Illinois posted on Facebook about calls from a mysterious phone number with a local area code last year. It sounded like the solicitor was calling from a boiler room, where individuals dial from a list of working phone numbers. Sadly, it comes down to their choice of words during a pitch; its unlawful to misrepresent how the money will be spent. It wasnt the usual automated call, and hearing a human voice kept me on the line. I recently took about a dozen of these police-support calls to hear the pitches. Read Also: How Do You Know If The Police Are Investigating You. Get a FREE subscription to AARP The Magazine. With tales of woe and heartbreaking images of children or helpless animals, they beg for assistance. I told him that I had some questions for him before I would donate. I later learned the organization is based in Fairfax, VA, and is a political action committee, or PAC. But none of the money being raised actually goes to police departments, according to government records. KENNER, LA (WVUE) - The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office warns of a scam from the "American Police Officers Alliance" asking for donations for law enforcement. The call came to Get Gephardt to investigate who exactly it is that's making those calls. Woman suspicious after calls to help police. 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. Ive become suspicious after reading what they had to say . A warning tonight about a phone and mail scam asking for donations. 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. Do police call for donations? At the end of 2021, robocalls raising money for police groups were the highest-volume phone messages in most major U.S. markets, according to Nomorobo, a robocall-blocking company that works with AARP on fraud prevention.
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