Many donors say they believed they were supporting a charity that helps local officers. 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. National Association of Police Athletics/Activities League. by Michelle Diament, April 2008. HARRISBURG Attorney General Josh Shapiro is warning Pennsylvanians to be on the lookout for bogus fundraising calls that purport to benefit the families of Martin F. Mack and Branden T. Sisca, the two fallen Pennsylvania State Police troopers tragically killed in the line of duty on I-95 South in Philadelphia. A Warner Bros. It spent $103,700 on behalf of House candidates about 3% of the total, and it has contributed nothing directly to veterans groups. How to report a scammer? He could not answer. On 11/4 another local call came it was the same man! If you are still not sure if your money is really going to the cause, call your local police or fire department and ask how you can donate to them. Wendy is fine with that and will sleep better now. This all looks very peculiar, said Richard Briffault, a professor at Columbia Law School who specializes in campaign finance. (Santa Rosa, Calf.) If you want to donate money for your police or fire department, send your contribution to the local sheriff or chiefs directly. We found a website for them, but it gives very little information about the organization and their mission. Operators who are so susprised it's scam. That link will take you to Illinois, where I live. When I googled the fund, a BBB caution was the first result. 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items. 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. It was found that only 2.7% of donations to the relief fund actually went to the families of fallen officers. Key battles deserve tight alliances. He of course provided a non-reassuring answer with no defence when the jig was up, and ended the call. That way, you avoid all of . Most of the money raised went to telemarketing 87 percent and other expenses. Today, the organization has over 300 chapters across the country working to create positive change in local communities. 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. Why does this matter? The organization began as a service program providing mentorship and outreach activities to youth as a way to combat juvenile crime. Instead, their contributions end up with a super PAC, Law Enforcement for a Safer America, which has ties to a controversial union and spends the majority of its money on its own operating costs. 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. With tales of woe and heartbreaking images of children or helpless animals, they beg for assistance. For anyone interested in supporting law enforcement, experts say, think local. He was donating to anyone who asked him for money, he said. 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 . 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. Pearl S Buck International's stated purpose is to provide opportunities to explore and appreciate other cultures, build better lives for children around the globe and promote the legacy of our founder by preserving and interpreting her National Historic Landmark home. The union has recently claimed to have more than 100,000 members, but the IUPA has reported around 20,000 members in tax filings. But whats the truth. The I.U.P.A. I did satisfy my rather small donation at their website https://nationalpolicesupportfund.com . 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. The recording says it is "Kenneth Allen from the National Police Support Fund" and they are asking for donations. 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). 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 Committee for Police Officers Defense, the telemarketers who called me, applied for tax exemption in California. Follow John on Instagram @johnmataresemoney, For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com. He initially solicited $95 and eventually said he would accept a $15 contribution as an offer of goodwill on my part. The IRS has pretty broad rules for being a nonprofit organization. The super PAC said on Facebook in September that it had placed this billboard in multiple locations throughout Wisconsin and that more would be coming. Theres just one week to go before the midterm election. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sara Kemerer of the Cincinnati BBB says you should look them up at the bureau's website, www.bbb.org, or at Charity Navigator.org, or Guidestar.org. Once it was blocked through my service provider, an additional phone number began to call my home multiple times a day. We use the funds raised from these activities to support elected officials, candidates, and organizations whose goals and values align with our own. These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. BREAKING The House just voted to block Biden's woke ESG rule, which would let Wall Street use your retirement savings to fund left-wing political causes. I found a few small line items labeled legislative services, but none that appeared to go directly to supporting police. A warning tonight about a phone and mail scam asking for donations. We don't engage in telemarketing. You read that correctly. 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. 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. She remembers news stories two years ago, about 67-year-old Jerry Hinkle, a Cincinnati man who raised thousands of dollars for the Shop with a Cop program, then admitted in court that he spent it on personal expenses (the case ended with a plea agreement). I asked him if the organization supports Donald Trump. Instead, theyre independent, expenditure-only political action committees, or super PACs. Bass, who set up several other super PACs, declined to comment. The charitys affiliation with the government. For example, in 2019, nearly 90% of the organizations income was spent on its programming. In researching the organizations, I discovered numerous similar-sounding names for PACs raising funds for police officers. Now, the last thing I want to do is discourage you from giving to causes you care about, like supporting police. The Committee for Police Officers Defense, the telemarketers who called me, applied for tax exemption in California. Stated that donations were not tax-deductible. The National Police Support Fund. Fundraising calls are allowed even if your number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. It wasnt the usual automated call, and hearing a human voice kept me on the line. 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. 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 . Our free newsletter is delivered at 8 a.m. daily. 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. The caller said he was phoning on behalf of the Committee for Police Officers Defense. Just hang up. According to the complaint, DPSF conned people into donating more than $9.9 million. The scripts were designed to give the impression that they were helping out officers versus lobbying efforts, he said, adding that the political affiliation was only fully disclosed when someone proactively asked where the money would be going. 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 . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Did you encounter any technical issues? 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). Ask for information, check sites like Charitynavigator.org and then if it all checks out, write that check. In a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission, another woman, whose name was redacted, said she received multiple calls from the National Coalition for Police and Troopers, one of the super PACs various aliases. Use a search engine to look for " your state + charity list ". Just as you sit down to dinner, the phone rings and the caller asks for a donation. I quickly identified over 70 super PACs with police or law enforcement in their names. 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. Getting 3 to 5 calls a day from 315-410-0874 phone number. I received a call today from someone from The National Police Support Fund, who claimed to be collecting money for a drive. Leaving politics aside for a minute, how do you know if those calls are legitimate? 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. Marine Toys for Tots Foundation (Triangle, Va.) Committee for Missing Children (Lawrenceville, Ga.) Prevent Child . Lots of different special interest groups are nonprofits, including some private businesses that pay their executives quite well. The Greenfield, Massachusetts, police department warned about the group last year as well. In this case, the pitch was for money for helping police officers in the continuing war against cops.. AARP Membership LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. 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. If your phone rings, it's not us. But whats the truth. We strive to engage the public through political grassroots activity to support political interests that promote officer's interests. I came across ScamPulse.com warning people about donating to the NPSF . 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. It appears there are a number of nonprofits up and running under the apparent control of Fotis. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Get a FREE subscription to AARP The Magazine. One woman received a call from the . 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. Law Enforcement for a Safer America has raked in nearly $10 million in donations from January 2019 to June 2020 . The recording says it is "Kenneth Allen from the National Police Support Fund" and they are asking for donations. The vast majority of donations since 2019 were under $200, meaning the funds came from tens of thousands of donors. Also Check: How To File A Police Report For Id Theft, You May Like: How Do Police Deal With Homeless. But none of the money being raised actually goes to police departments, according to government records. SCAM: National Police Support Fund donation. What can we learn from the latest Coinbase cyberattack? The group's videos have received few views, but money has been pouring in. Watch out for a new "police support fund" scam. Is National police Support Fund legit? The first thing I noticed was that I wasnt talking to live people; the answers all sounded scripted and recorded. The first one, the texh . I asked him where the money goes. In the first half of 2021, this organization reported donations of $4.3 million; expenditures were just under $4.2 million, the bulk of this going to overhead fundraising, lawyers, lead lists and so on. National Police Support Fund is dedicated to providing a united voice for true Americans who support our nation's law enforcement officers. This comes at a time when some community activists have been calling for defunding the police. Charity hustles work the same way. The National Police Support Fund is a national coalition committed to promoting the interests of America's. Police Protection Fund. Wow! Terms & conditions/privacy policy apply https://nationalpolicesupportfund.com/terms-of-service/, Contributions to the National Police Support Fund are not tax deductible. So what happened to the other approximately 33% of . 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 . I told him that I had some questions for him before I would donate. Charities face relatively rigorous review from the Internal Revenue Service, and most states require them to register before they can operate there. and our Read our full report on the organization here, https://bit.ly/3xMbldo. She said she was told the group was a charity benefiting police and troopers. I also learned that they were sued in the biggest FTC case in history. These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. One Daughters Fight Against Charity Fraud, Exclusive Walgreens Cash rewards for members, AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia: Vacation Packages, Members save when booking a flight vacation package, AARP Identity Theft Protection powered by Norton, Up to 53% off comprehensive protection plans, AARP Online Fitness powered by LIFT session, Customized workouts designed around your goals and schedule, SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS. Read Also: What Are The Steps To Becoming A Police Officer. The cause sounds worthy: Please support your local firefighters (or police officers), the caller implores. 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. 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. As an example, he cites former Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County in Arizona. Published For more information, please see our I asked if the donation was tax-deductible and he said no but could not elaborate as to why that was. Around 200 consumer complaints have also been made to state and federal regulators about the super PAC, its aliases and related groups. He paused for a few seconds and said "okay, bye" and hung up the phone. National Police Support Fund is a national political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. It also transferred $30,000 to another pro-police super PAC that the union operates, based on the officers listed on its filings. Whether the website is from the same sector as nationalpolicesupportfund.com or not, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission. We are just passing along the information if you get a suspicious call asking for money for police officers.. Virginia incorporation papers show James Fotis is president of the Alliance and changed the name to the Defense Coalition. The latter is the name of the PAC I found earlier that had raised $3.2 million in contributions. Political organizations including both the Democratic and Republican parties are nonprofits. What they do: ThePolice Unity Tour raises funds and awareness for members of law enforcement who lost their lives during their service. The organization also has a Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. ThePAC, organized by Zachary Bass, spent 90% of its take on fundraising, campaign filings show. . 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. A hustle is like the 70s disco dance. See the metrics below for more information. These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. 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. "Being that it was a recording right off the bat . If you have been contacted via telephone and asked to make donations to the National Police Foundation in Washington, D.C., this is a scam. It's always a variation of the above name. 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. There have been calls circulating from a Police Officers Support Association asking for credit card donations. What should we investigate next? This Florida-based union touts its federal lobbying efforts on behalf of local members. I told him that there is no such thing as a National Police Trust Fund. 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. Unable to verify the federal tax ID, redirected to a toll-free number. Multiple attempted calls from one number. Getting 3 to 5 calls a day from 315-410-0874 phone number. Privacy Policy. They are the tragi-charities. With everything that's happening this pandemic year, people are getting more and more calls to support their local police. A warning tonight about calls targeting people around the Tri-State asking them to help support the police. Our Police, Firefighters, and all First Responders do need our support. generic photos, there is no real content validating that they do anything to actually support the police. : r/Scams. We highly encourage our followers to verify who they are making donations to when contacted for fundraisers.. 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 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! He could not answer. Can the police officers count on you?. He said his father has always leaned heavily Democratic, supported President Barack Obama and previously expressed strong anti-Trump views. Another charity that should come with a "donator, beware" sign is the Police Protection Fund. By choosing the . The International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO was formed in 1979 to collectively represent those in law enforcement that are active or retired law enforcement officers to fight to improve, protect, and remember the lives of officers and their families in law enforcement the organization also works to improve legislation that protects and affects public safety officers, as well as representing the needs of law enforcement officers and support personnel, whether that be for better equipment, more staff or a fair wage. I later learned the organization is based in Fairfax, VA, and is a political action committee, or PAC. The National Police Support Fund is a legitimate organization that supports the interests of America's law enforcement officers. Each organization says it is spending money for police officers being abused and unfairly targeted. American Association of State Troopers claims to support retired state troopers. If they are PACs, the fundraising effort is politically motivated and wont necessarily support San Diego-area officers or deputies or their families. He instead provided me with their national number. Filed Jan. 29, 2020, 3:45 p.m. GMT. Law Enforcement for a Safer America officials did not return repeated requests for comment. These Are the 9 Best Charities for Law Enforcement in 2023. Quoting from its website, the Committee for Police Officers Defense is a 527 Committee designed to seek out radical prosecutors, judges and district attorneys. Another organization is named on the website as well The Police Officers Defense Coalition.