A warning tonight about calls targeting people around the Tri-State asking them to help support the police. 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. Why does this matter? Being a generous person, she agreed to mail them $50. Last month the National Police Association (NPA) filed an ethics complaint against Rachael Rollins, the new district attorney for Suffolk County, Massachusetts (who recently . We support police officers who risk their lives daily protecting our communities. When I asked which state this drive was for, the caller could not answer and instead said it is for a national charity. 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. It spent $103,700 on behalf of House candidates about 3% of the total, and it has contributed nothing directly to veterans groups. 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. Legitimate charities can be checked on websites such as www.guidestar.org. Ask if the donation is tax-deductible. The IRS has pretty broad rules for being a nonprofit organization. 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. Sadly, it comes down to their choice of words during a pitch; its unlawful to misrepresent how the money will be spent. And soon, you say, sure, why not? Filed Jan. 29, 2020, 3:45 p.m. GMT. 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. 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Kids Wish Network, however, spends only 3 cents of every dollar collected on kids. According to an analysis by The Center for Public Integrity (CFPI), the names of some of these "scam PACs" are listed below. To promote the prevention of juvenile crime and violence by building relationships among kids, cops and community through positive engagement. How to report a scammer? Some tips for consumers: Listen carefully for the name of the organization. There have been calls circulating from a Police Officers Support Association asking for credit card donations. So have we all. . Get a FREE subscription to AARP The Magazine. Please note that many legitimate local (and unaffiliated) police foundations and organizations may solicit donations from local communities via telephone and mail. He of course provided a non-reassuring answer with no defence when the jig was up, and ended the call. Only one replied directly: 90 percent went to fundraising, and 10 percent went to police support. 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. I found a few small line items labeled legislative services, but none that appeared to go directly to supporting police. The answer is that, in many cases, these arent charities at all. . 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 . Published Nonprofit however does not mean they are a 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. I asked him where the money goes. Tax filings also show that the union operates its own call center and that a company the union controls purchased a nearly 20,000 square foot office building valued at more than $2.5 million, where the union is now based. Can the police officers count on you?. The answer is that, in many cases, these arent charities at all. We won't use your email for any other purpose, and you can opt out at any time via an unsubscribe link. Government documents show that the founding treasurer is currently an executive at the International Union of Police Associations. I've asked them repeatedly to stop calling this typically results in additional calls back to back from different numbers. What should we investigate next? The pop-up charity business is usually local, occasionally regional and rarely national. California resident Kellie Van Westen, 69, said she has family members who are law enforcement officers and that she believed the roughly $1,400 she donated since 2019 would help bolster local police budgets and pay for equipment to keep them safe.. The Better Business Bureau says if anyone calls or knocks asking you to help the police, the best thing you can do is ask them for information before you agree to donate. proudly complies with state regulations and required disclosures. On its donate page, the NPA boasts of its work to preserve the American way of life and fight back against cop-haters. 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. Other policies that the NPA promotes include aggressive stop-and-frisk tactics and broken windows policingstrategies that have resulted in unconstitutional practices that undermine civil liberties. The charitys programs focus primarily on education, mentorship, and athletic activities that empower youth. Andy Cottam is among the many who received the call. If you want to donate money for your police or fire department, send your contribution to the local sheriff or chiefs directly. One of the more successful scams is when the scammer poses as one of many charities benefitting Law Enforcement. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Especially after a tragedy or military-related event, fundraisers and causes show up on social media and people create crowdfunding campaigns to help those affected. A Warner Bros. . 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! Multiple attempted calls from one number. 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. 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. 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). I recently took about a dozen of these police-support calls to hear the pitches. Getting 3 to 5 calls a day from 315-410-0874 phone number. The cause sounds worthy: Please support your local firefighters (or police officers), the caller implores. He gave a range of donations to be made . 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. 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items. That means of a $35 donation, no more than $3.50 goes to their stated cause. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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 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. When a charitys fundraiser calls to ask you for a donation, they have to follow some rules: A: We engage in activities aimed at supporting our law enforcement officers and standing up for their rights and values throughout the political process. These Are the 9 Best Charities for Law Enforcement in 2023. The first thing I noticed was that I wasnt talking to live people; the answers all sounded scripted and recorded. Local organizations that raise money on behalf of San Diego law enforcement include: Star/Pal for San Diego Police, which provides educational and recreational services for inner-city youth, and the San Diego County Deputy Sheriffs Foundation, which provides support services for sheriffs personnel and families. You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. ThePAC, organized by Zachary Bass, spent 90% of its take on fundraising, campaign filings show. He could not answer. Read our full report on the organization here, https://bit.ly/3xMbldo. Stated that donations were not tax-deductible. 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. How a donation will be used, or how much of the donation actually goes to the charitys programs. In this case, the pitch was for money for helping police officers in the continuing war against cops.. The Police Officers Defense Alliance, for example, raised $3.2 million in 2020, and The American Police Officers Alliance raised $4.3 million.