Only one replied directly: 90 percent went to fundraising, and 10 percent went to police support. If it is a scam they are awfully convincing on the phone but are also rather forceful. He was donating to anyone who asked him for money, he said. Has anyone else recently seen an uptick and calls from various police support organizations? These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. For anyone interested in supporting law enforcement, experts say, think local. Together, the Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund and the International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO, have spent about $82.3 million 77 percent of their operating expenditures on fundraising services from around 2011 to March 2018, according to a Public Integrity analysis of annual tax returns filed with the Internal Revenue . 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. 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. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. I found a few small line items labeled legislative services, but none that appeared to go directly to supporting police. 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. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. I quickly identified over 70 super PACs with police or law enforcement in their names. Not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee.Paid for by National Police Support Fund, Inc. |Privacy & Refund Policy| Sitemap, Biggest Issues Facing Police Officers Today. Theres just one week to go before the midterm election. Its been a tough couple years for local law enforcement. Law enforcement has a tough enough job without having to put up with charlatans masquerading as heroes. Bass, who set up several other super PACs, declined to comment. But almost no one was helped. This person spoke broken english and told me to donate using credit card. 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. And that is likely the point. The case has not yet been resolved. He initially solicited $95 and eventually said he would accept a $15 contribution as an offer of goodwill on my part. Just as you sit down to dinner, the phone rings and the caller asks for a donation. SCAM: National Police Support Fund donation. 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. Discovery Company. Recommended Reading: How Many Hours To Become A Police Officer, Read Also: What Education Do I Need To Be A Police Officer. And it's very easy to catch the eye of someone.". And some are outright scams. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. These are Americas heroes. Videos on its site show cities in flames and say that officers have been injured during what the group describes as riots presumably referring to recent Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd. 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. Why does this matter? Individual officers can also become members, according to its website. Our free newsletter is delivered at 8 a.m. daily. Campaign finance data, however, shows that about 98% of the money spent is not being used for this mission. 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. In fact, as Ive previously , supporting law enforcement and supporting reform movements such as Black Lives Matter are not mutually exclusive. 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! Ask for information, check sites like Charitynavigator.org and then if it all checks out, write that check. In researching the organizations, I discovered numerous similar-sounding names for PACs raising funds for police officers. Our mission is to promote the interests of our nation's police officers within our nation's political and public policy process. Enter address: This website, like most media sites, uses small files called cookies to anonymously customize the advertising that you see. In the report, National Police Support Fund reported about $61,000 in . Law Enforcement for a Safer America officials did not return repeated requests for comment. AiThority Interview with Lori Anne, Director of Product Development & Management at Verizon, Branded Caller ID: The Pros And Cons In The Battle Against Phone Scams, A New Scam Is Making the Rounds Just in Time for Tax Season, Smishing: The new year is here and so are new scams. . Just want you notified that they are calling on area code 203 #s in CT now. He instead provided me with their national number. Law Enforcement for a Safer America has raked in nearly $10 million in donations from January 2019 to June 2020 . He of course provided a non-reassuring answer with no defence when the jig was up, and ended the call. First Responders Children's Foundation. I again was transferred to another person who wanted my credit card info and stated due to covid they wanted to decrease handling and credit cards was the best way to donate. Please let me know if there are any actions ScamPulse.com suggests I take other than ignore any future requests. 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. The group's videos have received few views, but money has been pouring in. Free online workshop! You read that correctly. This includes marketing and outreach to supporters and communities, grassroots political efforts, and digital marketing efforts. Concerns of Police Survivors. This policy has been repudiated by a significant number of law enforcement leaders, whose experience has led them to conclude that it would make their communities unsafe. 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. A: A 527 political organization is a party committee, association, fund, or other organization organized and operated primarily for the purpose of directly or indirectly accepting contributions or making expenditures for an exempt function. Here are a few ideas to help you give safely: Con artists refer to what they do as a hustle. Being a generous person, she agreed to mail them $50. The pop-up charity business is usually local, occasionally regional and rarely national. 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. The National Police Support Fund is a legitimate organization that supports the interests of America's law enforcement officers. 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 are entering the crucial last minutes of our ongoing struggle to defend police officers. "Being that it was a recording right off the bat . The answer is that, in many cases, these arent charities at all. So, the next time you get this call, hang up. It was raising money using four different police-oriented names (one association, two coalitions and one support fund). National Police Support Fund representatives have been phoning potential donors in the St. Louis area over the past several weeks, including the wife of a retired police officer who said she . Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. The National Police Association advocates Support the Police, and Back the Blue, because Blue Lives Matter. The Committee for Police Officers Defense, the telemarketers who called me, applied for tax exemption in California. A secretive political group has been pulling in millions of dollars in recent months amid a growing Blue Lives Matter movement, with a cadre of telemarketers urgently telling Americans that now is the time to support the police and keep them safe. The I.U.P.A. At times, I thought they were maybe misguided, he said. What should we investigate next? 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. 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. In a nationwide, federal-state crackdown on fraudulent telemarketers claiming to help police, firefighters, and veterans, the Federal Trade Commission, together with 61 Attorneys General, Secretaries of State, and other law enforcers of 49 states and the District of Columbia, today announced Operation False Charity. The recording says it is "Kenneth Allen from the National Police Support Fund" and they are asking for donations. 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. As Smarter Giving notes, what is actually supports is the bank balances of its chief executives. Contact us: contact@knowyourpolice.net, SCAM: National Police Support Fund donation, How To Get Insurance Information From Police Report, Is National Police Association Legitimate, How Many Years Of College To Become A Police Officer, Do You Need A Degree To Become A Police Officer, What Are The Steps To Becoming A Police Officer, How Many Hours To Become A Police Officer, What Education Do I Need To Be A Police Officer, How Do You Know If The Police Are Investigating You. The man on the other end of the phone is asking for money for the protection of police officers. Gotten calls like this? 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. The National Police Support Fund is a national political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. I asked if the donation was tax-deductible and he said no but could not elaborate as to why that was. 2. Hispanic Federation (New York City) Abandoned Children's Fund. 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. I started rifling through my mail as he gave me the same exact spiel this time saying he represented United Police support fund. For example, in 2019, nearly 90% of the organizations income was spent on its programming. 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. When I asked which state this drive was for, the caller could not answer and instead said it is for a national charity. I should have been more aware that it sounded fishy and of course just saw the ScamPulse.com warning. But other charities lie about what they do with donations or how much they spend on programs. Andy Cottam is among the many who received the call. Unable to verify the federal tax ID, redirected to a toll-free number. Get a FREE subscription to AARP The Magazine. When I asked which state this drive was for, the caller could not answer and instead said it is for a national charity. Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps"). As our conversation continued, the caller would lower the amount of funding he was requesting. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Type of a scam Charity. I've asked them repeatedly to stop calling this typically results in additional calls back to back from different numbers. Sara Kemerer of the . 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. What should we investigate next? That means of a $35 donation, no more than $3.50 goes to their stated cause. 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. Even if you like the idea, how do you know the call is legitimate? Published 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. January 11, 2019. At the end of 2021, robocalls raising money for police groups were thehighest-volume phone messages in most major U.S. markets, according to Nomorobo, a robocall-blocking company that works with AARP on fraud prevention. So we can Verify, National Coalition for Police and Troopers is a site owned by a PAC, isn't a charitable organization. JW August is a San Diego-based broadcast and digital journalist. 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. Javascript must be enabled to use this site. National Police Defense Foundation has earned a 81% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. Once it was blocked through my service provider, an additional phone number began to call my home multiple times a day. Sadly, it comes down to their choice of words during a pitch; its unlawful to misrepresent how the money will be spent. The scenario is all too familiar. In fact, they count on the confusion to gather contributions. On its donate page, the NPA boasts of its work to preserve the American way of life and fight back against cop-haters. 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. AARP Membership - LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. He never would have given money to any group if he knew that some of that money was going to pro-Trump campaign ads, said Busse. 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. The call came to Get Gephardt to investigate who exactly it is that's making those calls. Please note that many legitimate local (and unaffiliated) police foundations and organizations may solicit donations from local communities via telephone and mail. As a wife of a police officer this is absolutely disgusting! she stated. They are the tragi-charities. 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. Please reload the page and try again. 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. 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. This comes at a time when some community activists have been calling for "defunding" the police. 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/. It appears their lack of transparency regarding where the money goes was the reason for the BBB caution. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. It only means they do not seek to make a profit on their activities. He seemed okay with it. 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. National Police Association Inc. has earned a 60% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. "As Pennsylvanians look to support [] Trade groups like those that represent the fast food or soft drink producers operate as nonprofits. 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.. Founded in 1978, NAPO is the strongest unified . Here are the Top 7 Amazon scam calls. What they do: The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities League aims to minimize juvenile crime through outreach programs that pair officers with youth. 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. 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. The recording says it is "Kenneth Allen from the National Police Support Fund" and they are asking for donations. by Michelle Diament, April 2008. Instead, theyre independent, expenditure-only political action committees, or super PACs. 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. For more information, please refer to the IRS definition of Political Organization. Phony Firefighters Scam. The caller said he was phoning on behalf of the Committee for Police Officers Defense. I also learned that they were sued in the biggest FTC case in history. We support police officers who risk their lives daily protecting our communities. Government documents show that the founding treasurer is currently an executive at the International Union of Police Associations. The rule of law is being eroded in our communities, and we need true Americans to stand up and join voices in support of the public servants who keep us safe. Contributions made to National Police Support Fund are not tax-deductible. 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 . 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. 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. Consumer Protection. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription toAARP The Magazine. In the case of National Police Support Fund, we accept contributions and make expenditures in order to influence the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of candidates to federal, state, and local offices. 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. The solution, the letter says, is clear: Give our law enforcement officers the crime prevention tools they need. 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 recording says it is "Kenneth Allen from the National Police Support Fund" and they are asking for donations. But then she started to worry, especially when she couldn't find the group listed as a charity anywhere online. A hustle is like the 70s disco dance. Many of these names could easily be confused with public charities, such as Autism Speaks, National Association of Police Organizations, or Veterans Assistance Foundation. . Now those same anarchists that rioted and assaulted law enforcement officers are using the Taliban playbook by destroying public statues and monuments while advocating for defunding law enforcement agencies, a narrator states in a video from July, as protests continued across the country. Absolutely no legitimate law enforcement backed organization would stoop to this level of begging for money. Terms & conditions/privacy policy apply https://nationalpolicesupportfund.com/terms-of-service/, Contributions to the National Police Support Fund are not tax deductible. 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! We use the funds raised from these activities to support elected officials, candidates, and organizations whose goals and values align with our own. Im calling on behalf of the National Save the Police Fund,* the voice on the phone told me. 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. Our grassroots organization was formed under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, which allows us to engage in political activity. 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. Each organization says it is spending money for police officers being abused and unfairly targeted. According to an analysis by The Center for Public Integrity (CFPI), the names of some of these "scam PACs" are listed below. 4. 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. 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. Now, the last thing I want to do is discourage you from giving to causes you care about, like supporting police. National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Have a problem?Send me an email, at jmatarese@wcpo.com or message me on Facebook. Key battles deserve tight alliances. 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items. POLICING THE MOST DANGEROUS CITY IN THE COUNTRY: What do Chicago's LEO's and citizens think? Multiple voices could be heard in the background. I recently took about a dozen of these police-support calls to hear the pitches. National Association of Police Athletics/Activities League. Recommended Reading: How To Become A Desk Police Officer, Also Check: Can Police Help Me Unlock My Car. I feel they abuse their use of the name to maybe convey a false sense to the community about who they are and what they really do with the money.. Below are our favorite charities for law enforcement: National Police Foundation. "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. And soon, you say, sure, why not? again. I told him that there is no such thing as a National Police Trust Fund. 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.
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