As I write this over the holidays of 2009, the phone calls are coming in because many of the government’s efforts to spread the word about this charity scam are failing, so no good American can give them their hard earned money. The odds are very high that you’ll get a call from a hedge fund and a well-crafted sales pitch from someone mistaken as a police officer.
Legally, these calls cannot be stopped in the way that other commercial calls cannot be stopped under federal and state laws, because non-profit groups are exempt. But having a legal status as a non-profit charity does not mean it is a legitimate group. On the other hand, there are many bank charities that collect many millions of dollars, but use very little money for real causes worthy These fake groups are really run businesses for salaries and other perks for their leaders and employees. They use very clever marketing techniques to trick gullible people into giving money.
As soon as this is published by someone directly or indirectly in the use of the Pres Protection Fund, I will certainly post positive comments here. Don’t believe any of them. Here are some facts you should remember when you receive one from a phone phone number:
In June, 2008, it was reported that the Missouri Attorney General would make good on the PPF payment of $450,000 in a state court settlement that refused to stop telemarketing calls because harassed consumers wanted to stop. “Today’s landmark ruling should serve as a reminder to all who engage in repetitive telemarketing — such practices will not be tolerated in Missouri,” said Attorney General Nixon. Regardless of the preferred cause, there is never any room for soliciting donations from users, often against their stated wishes.” As in many other states, Missourians have complained that the PPF repeated phone calls long after they were asked not to, often rudely. and using terror to obtain donations. Nixon’s office worked with several St. Louis area police departments as well as others from around the state after complaints about the PPF to Those appointments are transmitted to the Attorney General.
Sometimes fundraisers think that money for sneaking is vital to follow the laws about solicitations to be legitimate. law enforcement efforts are not harmed by funding,” said Sheldon Lineback, executive director of the Missouri Police Chiefs Association, which does not use telemarketing. “We appreciate Attorney General Nixon’s efforts to help legitimate Missouri law enforcement agencies.”
The only truly legitimate and useful program of this group is to provide death benefits to the families of police officers killed in action. office But the following remains to be noted: In 2006, the Police Protective Fund raised $5,938,902 in donations and received only $37,000 in death benefits. In 2007, the Police Protective Fund raised a remarkable $6,881,915 in donations, but received just $50,000 in death benefits. Obviously, almost all of the money raised goes towards their fundraising expenses, salaries for the big staff and all those benefits.
As in Missouri, in Maryland, then Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan warned of the cost of the state police charity scam operating in Montgomery County, which spends most of the money it collects to pay its own salaries. fundraising expenses. Duncan noted that there is no evidence that law enforcement agencies in Montgomery County benefited from the resources issued by the group and urged the State of Maryland to open an investigation into this matter and to move the enforcement of these shady operations. The Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) discovered the scam and is conducting its own investigation.
“It’s a shame that this crooked group is trying to take advantage of our residents,” Duncan said. “Our community is always ready to help legitimate public health charitable organizations, but we will not stand idly by and be dissociated from this outfit.” At the time, it was noted that the group used 91 percent of all donations to pay its administrative and general expenses and to fund costs in 2004.
Charitable memorials provide that the charity spends no more than 35 percent of its donations on fundraising expenses. The high administrative costs of police protection funds raised red flags for Montgomery County Consumer Protection officials and prompted a warning from Duncan.
Better Care Business Bureau s Wise Alliance program reports that despite the demands of this organization or the Alliance did not respond to the demands for information or refused to be evaluated in relation to the Standards of the Association for Charitable Accountability. The BBB Wise Alliance Alliance reports on national charities if they meet 20 voluntary standards on matters such as the charity’s finances, appeal and governance. The League does not value the charity program. The actual participation of the Charity Alliance is a voluntary review effort, but the Alliance believes that failure to participate demonstrates a lack of transparency. Without the requested information, the Alliance cannot determine if this charity adheres to the standards for Charity Accountability. The charity’s willingness to disclose information beyond what is properly included in its financial statements and governance is, in the eyes of the Federation, an expression of openness that strengthens public confidence in the charity sector.
All of this explains why another reputable charity Navigator group gave the PPF zero stars as a charity, its lowest rating. Many people have posted negative comments about this group on the Charity Navigator website.
As others have done, we spent a lot of time reading the latest tax return PPF which can be found on its website. Whoever takes the time to do this will inevitably conclude that this bench operation is run for the financial benefit of at least eight people and the many affiliated groups and companies and contractors working for them. Don’t fall for the high-pressure solicitation phone calls. Giving money to this phoney charity is a mere waste of money.
