7:35 AM EDT, Fri October 16, 2020. This comes at a time when some community activists have been calling for "defunding" the police. The Better Business Bureau is warning about an organization that calls itself the National Police Support Fund which, despite soliciting contributions from St. Louis-area donors, isn't . Simple web searches can show that the 'charitable organization' calling either 1 . Registration with any of these state agencies does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by any state. A special program within the International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO.Speaking With One Voice, Moving With One Purpose. 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. The first one, the texh . To raise awareness of Law Enforcement Officers who have died in the line of duty. This section is used to influence public opinion in support of the interests of . Police Protection Fund. The recording says it is "Kenneth Allen from the National Police Support Fund" and they are asking for donations. I told him I did not have any money to donate at the moment. We don't engage in telemarketing. This includes marketing and outreach to supporters and communities, grassroots political efforts, and digital marketing efforts. Lots of different special interest groups are nonprofits, including some private businesses that pay their executives quite well. At times, I thought they were maybe misguided, he said. Woman suspicious after calls to help police. Gotten calls like this? National Police Support Fund is a national political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. Super PACs are able to raise unlimited amounts of money, which they can use to advocate for political candidates or causes. 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. Terms & conditions/privacy policy apply https://nationalpolicesupportfund.com/terms-of-service/, Contributions to the National Police Support Fund are not tax deductible. As a wife of a police officer this is absolutely disgusting! she stated. The robot voice saying the call would be recorded for record purposes sounded so real but it was just him. He was donating to anyone who asked him for money, he said. 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. But their website and solicitations are designed to look and sound like Make a Wish. These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. The National Police Support Fund. I came across ScamPulse.com warning people about donating to the NPSF . JW August is a San Diego-based broadcast and digital journalist. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. 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. It was raising money using four different police-oriented names (one association, two coalitions and one support fund). Post has been removed or is no longer public. You can find more information about "who is the National Police Support . The latter is the name of the PAC I found earlier that had raised $3.2 million in contributions. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The scenario is all too familiar. 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items. Here are the Top 7 Amazon scam calls. 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. This would allow me a chance to talk to your wife about considering further contributions. Gotten calls like this? Phony Firefighters Scam. The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities League was founded in 1940 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. nationalpolice.org. The answer is that, in many cases, these arent charities at all. Did you encounter any technical issues? Videos on Law Enforcement for a Safer America's website show cities in flames and say that officers have been injured during what the group describes as riots. The National Police Association advocates Support the Police, and Back the Blue, because Blue Lives Matter. appreciated. This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies. Are the money-gathering techniques these scam PACs use illegal? Can the police officers count on you?. Fundraising calls are allowed even if your number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. Government documents show that the founding treasurer is currently an executive at the International Union of Police Associations. Filed Jan. 29, 2020, 3:45 p.m. GMT. In fact, they count on the confusion to gather contributions. The pop-up charity business is usually local, occasionally regional and rarely national. 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. 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. 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! Busse said he and his sister took over their fathers finances last year. We support police officers who risk their lives daily protecting our communities. He could not answer. I recently took about a dozen of these police-support calls to hear the pitches. Jessica Levinson, a Loyola Law School professor specializing in campaign finance and political corruption, said the fact that the super PAC had spent such a huge proportion of its contributions on its own expenses was jaw dropping and that it was equally concerning to hear that fundraisers were going after the elderly who they may consider easy marks.. Dont send your money to a national group collecting for causes that may not always be clear. 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/. Here are some things you can do to avoid donating to a fake charity: Pay attention to the charity's name. It said callers were soliciting support for police officers but that the group was actually connected to a political action committee. It also concerned him that so many prospects were elderly. 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). 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. 2019 - The South African Department of Employment & Labour Disclaimer PAIA 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. He initially solicited $95 and eventually said he would accept a $15 contribution as an offer of goodwill on my part. Another useful fact: Organizations that file reports with the FEC have to list a treasurer. During the pandemic, a plethora of fraudulent websites came out like a plague. With everything that's happening this pandemic year, people are getting more and more calls to support their local police. 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. 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. Andy Cottam is among the many who received the call. Fake joke to start out. 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 I.U.P.A. Enter address: This website, like most media sites, uses small files called cookies to anonymously customize the advertising that you see. The call was spoofed to appear to be from [a] Montana phone number, he wrote, noting that the caller did not identify the group as a political action committee, or super PAC, and telling his followers that it was not a nonprofit so donations are not tax deductible. 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 . Police Unity Tour. 4 talking about this. 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. I asked if the donation was tax-deductible and he said no but could not elaborate as to why that was. 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. One of the more successful scams is when the scammer poses as one of many charities benefitting Law Enforcement. Law Enforcement for a Safer America does not disclose on its website who is running the super PAC, but public filings reveal that leaders of one of the countrys largest police unions are pulling the strings. How much do I need to save for retirement? I asked him if the organization supports Donald Trump. 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. I told him that I had some questions for him before I would donate. Below are a few tips for screening for legitimate charities. I found a few small line items labeled legislative services, but none that appeared to go directly to supporting police. Please reload the page and try again. Why does this matter? Clint Bates. . 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. What should we investigate next? Charities face relatively rigorous review from the Internal Revenue Service, and most states require them to register before they can operate there. National Association of Police Athletics/Activities League. We won't use your email for any other purpose, and you can opt out at any time via an unsubscribe link. About $1.8 million went toward the salaries of union officials, including $199,700 for Cabral, the president. The union is run by a retired police detective, and it is affiliated with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the countrys biggest federation of unions, which did not respond to requests for comment. Only one replied directly: 90 percent went to fundraising, and 10 percent went to police support. Kids Wish Network, however, spends only 3 cents of every dollar collected on kids. Groups like Antifa and Black Lives Matter have inspired people to assassinate cops on the street. The organization began as a service program providing mentorship and outreach activities to youth as a way to combat juvenile crime. 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. How to report a scammer? 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. This was up from roughly $1 million raised by the group, which was founded in June 2018, in the last six months of the prior election cycle. The call came to Get Gephardt to investigate who exactly it is that's making those calls. 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. So, the next time you get this call, hang up. Virginia incorporation papers show James Fotis is president of the Alliance and changed the name to the Defense Coalition. The first thing I noticed was that I wasnt talking to live people; the answers all sounded scripted and recorded. @GunOwners. Our mission is to promote the interests of our nation's police officers within our nation's political and public policy process. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Being a generous person, she agreed to mail them $50. 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. He said he wanted a contribution for the police department and man and women who are fighting to protect us. But the groups file financial disclosures with federal regulators under only a handful of names. I was contacted in Wilton, CT by representatives of the National Police Support Fund. The organization also has a Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. 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. Recently, the District Attorney's office was made aware of calls from nearby area codes claiming to support local officers injured in the line of duty. . We strive to engage the public through political grassroots activity to support political interests that promote officer's interests. The application also included the name Police Officers Defense Coalition, as well as the Police Officers Defense Alliance. It appears their lack of transparency regarding where the money goes was the reason for the BBB caution. Our officers deserve our respect and support, the Super PACs website reads. Tax records show the Fotis organization that phoned me raised $75,000 in 2021, up from $50,000 the year before. Privacy Policy. And soon, you say, sure, why not? According to the complaint, DPSF conned people into donating more than $9.9 million. 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 . Years later, as the success of the . We are just passing along the information if you get a suspicious call asking for money for police officers.. In two words, its not. The funds raised during their 4-day long ride are donated directly to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Watch out for a new "police support fund" scam. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. 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. The recording says it is "Kenneth Allen from the National Police Support Fund" and they are asking for donations. Many donors say they believed they were supporting a charity that helps local officers. Asking for donations to the National Police Support Fund. Multiple voices could be heard in the background. National Police Defense Foundation has earned a 81% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. So what happened to the other approximately 33% of . 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. Read Also: What Are The Steps To Becoming A Police Officer. An IRS report was filed on July 26. SCAM: National Police Support Fund donation. In the wake of tragedies large and small, they pop up like mushrooms after a rain. I confronted him that if they were legit, why it was that they are labeled as a scam operation. I did not feel comfortable giving the information over the phone . 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. 2. AARP Membership - LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. The organization began as a service program providing mentorship and outreach activities to youth as a way to combat juvenile crime. Our Police, Firefighters, and all First Responders do need our support. The Arizona Fraternal Order of Police is a real organization, but protect yourself and ask questions when you receive calls like these. Wow! 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. Type of a scam Charity. After further investigation, they are not approved by the better business bureau and they have nothing but horrible reviews . 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. When I asked which state this drive was for, the caller could not answer and instead said it is for a national charity. For more information, please see our Javascript must be enabled to use this site. I received a call today from someone from The National Police Support Fund, who claimed to be collecting money for a drive. 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. An image from Law Enforcement For A Safer America PAC's Facebook page. And Law Enforcement for a Safer America appears to be cashing in. Read Also: How Do You Know If The Police Are Investigating You. Another charity that should come with a "donator, beware" sign is the Police Protection Fund. 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 found that only 2.7% of donations to the relief fund actually went to the families of fallen officers. The Police Officers Defense Alliance, for example, raised $3.2 million in 2020, and The American Police Officers Alliance raised $4.3 million. He paused for a few seconds and said "okay, bye" and hung up the phone. 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. Law enforcement has a tough enough job without having to put up with charlatans masquerading as heroes. But these telemarketers bombarding our phone lines? 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. Here are a few ideas to help you give safely: Con artists refer to what they do as a hustle. I said no i was told I would be sent a pledge form. Our free newsletter is delivered at 8 a.m. daily. I should have been more aware that it sounded fishy and of course just saw the ScamPulse.com warning. The BBB said days later, the New Jersey State Police photo had been removed from the site. 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 usual claiming they were legitimate. We do not support nor do we condone this group, the post stated. 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. People are receiving phone scam calls asking for donations to help out local police departments or slain and wounded police offers. As our conversation continued, the caller would lower the amount of funding he was requesting. These Are the 9 Best Charities for Law Enforcement in 2023. Whoops! A hustle is like the 70s disco dance. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply. 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. Another law enforcement charity that faced disciplinary action was the American Association of State Troopers, which was fined a total of $321,115 in three states - Georgia, Mississippi and Pennsylvania. Im calling on behalf of the National Save the Police Fund,* the voice on the phone told me. 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. The case has not yet been resolved. Recommended Reading: How To Become A Desk Police Officer, Also Check: Can Police Help Me Unlock My Car. Wendy is fine with that and will sleep better now. How a donation will be used, or how much of the donation actually goes to the charitys programs. Money donated to this group might be used for political purposes and will not be used for direct help to police or troopers, Fox wrote. "I got burned a couple of years ago when I found out another charity I was contributing to was not a real charity, so I thought I should probably check this one out," Beckman said. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. The Greenfield, Massachusetts, police department warned about the group last year as well. 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. 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. We found a website for them, but it gives very little information about the organization and their mission. You read that correctly. 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! 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 . 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. Sadly, it comes down to their choice of words during a pitch; its unlawful to misrepresent how the money will be spent. Please let me know if there are any actions ScamPulse.com suggests I take other than ignore any future requests. and our He said his father served in the Navy for nearly two decades and was always proud of his service. Many legitimate charities support local firefighters and police, active duty military, and veterans, or their families. But then she started to worry, especially when she couldn't find the group listed as a charity anywhere online. The organization also participates in advocacy work to emphasize some of the dangers law enforcement officers face, and the sacrifices they make to protect society. . You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. National Police Support Fund is dedicated to providing a united voice for true Americans who support our nation's law enforcement officers. Follow John on Instagram @johnmataresemoney, For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com. So have we all. If you want fundraisers to stop calling, ask them to put you on the charitys do not call list. I quickly identified over 70 super PACs with police or law enforcement in their names. 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. This group purports on various websites that donations are being used to back candidates who will stand up for police and introduce legislation to help officers and provide benefits to families who have lost loved ones in the line of duty. Many of these names could easily be confused with public charities, such as Autism Speaks, National Association of Police Organizations, or Veterans Assistance Foundation. ThePAC, organized by Zachary Bass, spent 90% of its take on fundraising, campaign filings show. I did satisfy my rather small donation at their website https://nationalpolicesupportfund.com . Just change the state to your state and verify the charity is listed with your state attorney general's office, or another regulatory office (each state has different requirements). United Police Fund / National Police Fund scam harassment. The charitys affiliation with the government. Stated that donations were not tax-deductible. This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies. Last month the National Police Association (NPA) filed an ethics complaint against Rachael Rollins, the new district attorney for Suffolk County, Massachusetts (who recently . PPF has been sued by regulatory agencies in at least six states, including California, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri, and was fined $463,000. The National Police Association files amicus brief opposing Oregon's attempt to criminalize law abiding gun owners. Ive become suspicious after reading what they had to say . Not authorized by any candidate or . Gifts to actual charities are donations to PACs, which sometimes sound like charities, are not. Never disclose personal information. Or follow the simplest rule: Never give to anyone over the phone, said Margot Saunders, senior counsel for the National Consumer Law Center. Contributions made to National Police Support Fund are not tax-deductible. National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues. POLICING THE MOST DANGEROUS CITY IN THE COUNTRY: What do Chicago's LEO's and citizens think? What can we learn from the latest Coinbase cyberattack? Do police call for donations? 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. While some donors believe they are donating to . She verified my information and repeatedly asked me to promise to mail it back as soon as I received it. The man on the other end of the phone is asking for money for the protection of police officers. The Better Business Bureau conducted an investigation and found . I received a call today from someone from The National Police Support Fund, who claimed to be collecting money for a drive.