Department of Employment and Labour On its donate page, the NPA boasts of its work to preserve the American way of life and fight back against cop-haters. I did not feel comfortable giving the information over the phone . It was found that only 2.7% of donations to the relief fund actually went to the families of fallen officers. "So I really want to support the police for what they do.". 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. AARP Membership - LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. Lots of different special interest groups are nonprofits, including some private businesses that pay their executives quite well. That group calling you about donating to fallen officers? It's a huge scam. We support police officers who risk their lives daily protecting our communities. Are robo-calls from the 'Committee for Police Officers' Defense' (aka 9 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. American Association of State Troopers claims to support retired state troopers. . At times, I thought they were maybe misguided, he said. You May Like: Do You Need A Degree To Become A Police Officer. generic photos, there is no real content validating that they do anything to actually support the police. 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. The website soliciting funds for Arpaio says, Liberals have targeted Sheriff Joe Arpaio with a multi-million dollar lawsuit because he was upholding the law of the land. Law enforcement has a tough enough job without having to put up with charlatans masquerading as heroes. This comes at a time when some community activists have been calling for "defunding" the police. United Police Fund / National Police Fund scam harassment. He was donating to anyone who asked him for money, he said. The 20 Worst Charities You Shouldn't Be Donating To - Money Inc What they do: ThePolice Unity Tour raises funds and awareness for members of law enforcement who lost their lives during their service. Do police call for donations? - JacAnswers The IRS has pretty broad rules for being a nonprofit organization. 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 recently took about a dozen of these police-support calls to hear the pitches. For the record, on their website, it never calls itself a charity or non . 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. 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. If the potential donors suspected they had given to the group before, the callers were instructed to say: I have no way of knowing because we feel that donations are given from the heart, not the hand, so we keep all donation records confidential, according to the FAQ. He was super pushy trying to get me to donate for 75,95, 105 dollars. Phone Calls for Donations to the Police Could be a Scam - AARP Simple: less scrutiny. Years later, as the success of the . Individual officers can also become members, according to its website. If you want to donate money for your police or fire department, send your contribution to the local sheriff or chiefs directly. 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. Police charity caution: How to know if it's a scam - WCPO Virginia incorporation papers show James Fotis is president of the Alliance and changed the name to the Defense Coalition. We do not support nor do we condone this group, the post stated. Im calling on behalf of the National Save the Police Fund,* the voice on the phone told me. Charities face relatively rigorous review from the Internal Revenue Service, and most states require them to register before they can operate there. On each call, my questions about how donations got spent mostly went unanswered. For example, in the tax year that ended March 2018, the Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund gave 11 families an average of $6,545 apiece. Around 200 consumer complaints have also been made to state and federal regulators about the super PAC, its aliases and related groups. POLICING THE MOST DANGEROUS CITY IN THE COUNTRY: What do Chicago's LEO's and citizens think? The answer is that, in many cases, these arent charities at all. Many of these names could easily be confused with public charities, such as Autism Speaks, National Association of Police Organizations, or Veterans Assistance Foundation. Eagerly he asked if I was comfortable with that amount. 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. 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. 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. It appears there are a number of nonprofits up and running under the apparent control of Fotis. A union receptionist also confirmed to CNN that the super PAC is run by the union, but union leaders did not respond to repeated calls, voicemails and emails that laid out the concerns from other police departments and donors and asked why so little of the $10 million raised went toward political activities. Wendy Beckman got a call the other day from a man asking her to help retired police and firefighters. 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. 2. 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 organization also has a Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. 'Scam PACs' Are On the Rise: Don't Confuse Them for Legitimate Today, the organization has over 300 chapters across the country working to create positive change in local communities. I told him that there is no such thing as a National Police Trust Fund. National Police Support Fund | Alexandria VA - Facebook Here are some things you can do to avoid donating to a fake charity: Pay attention to the charity's name. National Police Association (@NatPoliceAssoc) / Twitter How to report a scammer? Simple: less scrutiny. Gotten calls like this? The scenario is all too familiar. Getting calls from police charities? - KNXV It appears their lack of transparency regarding where the money goes was the reason for the BBB caution. 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. Home - NPTA Donations The call came to Get Gephardt to investigate who exactly it is that's making those calls. He said his father has always leaned heavily Democratic, supported President Barack Obama and previously expressed strong anti-Trump views. This all looks very peculiar, said Richard Briffault, a professor at Columbia Law School who specializes in campaign finance. Now, the last thing I want to do is discourage you from giving to causes you care about, like supporting police. Law Enforcement for a Safer America has raked in nearly $10 million in donations from January 2019 to June 2020, according to data reported to the Federal Election Commission. Tax records show the Fotis organization that phoned me raised $75,000 in 2021, up from $50,000 the year before. That means of a $35 donation, no more than $3.50 goes to their stated cause. proudly complies with state regulations and required disclosures. "The National Police Support Fund is neither a 501(c)3 nor a 501(c)4 organization, but rather a political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. Did you encounter any technical issues? "But I'm sure there are a lot that are not on the level, so you kind of have to be cautious," she said. It also transferred $30,000 to another pro-police super PAC that the union operates, based on the officers listed on its filings. 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. Each organization says it is spending money for police officers being abused and unfairly targeted. 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. Read Also: Do You Have To Call The Police After An Accident, 2021 KnowYourPolice.net A charity is only one type of nonprofit. The first one, the texh . Just hang up. Getting 3 to 5 calls a day from 315-410-0874 phone number. When I asked which state this drive was for, the caller could not answer and instead said it is for a national charity. 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. That same tax year, the International Union of Police Associations gave 10 students pursuing advanced degrees in law enforcement an average of $2,500 apiece. Cookie Notice Our free newsletter is delivered at 8 a.m. daily. During the pandemic, a plethora of fraudulent websites came out like a plague. But almost no one was helped. Is National Police Support Fund Legit - KnowYourPolice.net "As Pennsylvanians look to support [] When I asked which state this drive was for, the caller could not answer and instead said it is for a national charity. On each call, my questions about how donations got spent mostly went unanswered. The cause sounds worthy: Please support your local firefighters (or police officers), the caller implores. National Police and Troopers Association - NPTA - Yelp National Police Support Fund So, the next time you get this call, hang up. We strive to engage the public through political grassroots activity to support political interests that promote officer's interests. 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. Andy Cottam is among the many who received the call. These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. And some are outright scams. He initially solicited $95 and eventually said he would accept a $15 contribution as an offer of goodwill on my part. Super PACs are able to raise unlimited amounts of money, which they can use to advocate for political candidates or causes. 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. Virginia Police Fund Watch out for a new "police support fund" scam - FourStatesHomepage.com CONSUMER ALERT: AG Shapiro Warns of Scams Related to Donations for To raise awareness of Law Enforcement Officers who have died in the line of duty. nationalpolice.org. Trump billboards along a desert stretch of highway near the border of California and Arizona were paid for by a small business that received a federal loan. You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. The recording says it is "Kenneth Allen from the National Police Support Fund" and they are asking for donations. Only one replied directly: 90 percent went to fundraising, and 10 percent went to police support. 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 . The source of the funding information was OpenSecrets, a database that tracks spending in U.S. politics run by the Center for Responsive Politics. The fund is a real nonprofit organization, but it is a political group created "primarily to influence the selection, nomination, election, appointment or defeat of candidates to federal, state or local public office. If your phone rings, it's not us. The recording says it is "Kenneth Allen from the National Police Support Fund" and they are asking for donations. You read that correctly. Email us: watchdog@cnn.com. Our movement is comprised of tens of thousands of Americans from all walks of life who are joined together by their common . We found a website for them, but it gives very little information about the organization and their mission. 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. In two words, its not. The first thing I noticed was that I wasnt talking to live people; the answers all sounded scripted and recorded. Scam PACs? Two Groups Claim To Support Vets And Cops While - Forbes The latter is the name of the PAC I found earlier that had raised $3.2 million in contributions. Wendy is fine with that and will sleep better now. 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. 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. In telemarketing calls, DPSF fundraisers told people that donations would be used for grants to disabled officers and to the families of officers slain in the line of duty. There have been calls circulating from a Police Officers Support Association asking for credit card donations. I quickly identified over 70 super PACs with police or law enforcement in their names. Big corporations dispute sponsoring a Florida police charity that Unless you want your money to go toward lawsuits , take my advice and find another charity to support although preferably one on another list to this one. BBB Advises Potential Donors to be Cautious If Solicited by the Oh, god, she said upon being contacted by CNN and learning how the money was spent, Im supposed to be smart, but boy was I a dope.. 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 Police Are Always Asking For Money But Where Does That Money Go 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. 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. Can the police officers count on you?. 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. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Its made up of series of regular steps timed to the beat of the music that can be improvised as needed. ThePAC, organized by Zachary Bass, spent 90% of its take on fundraising, campaign filings show. After further investigation, they are not approved by the better business bureau and they have nothing but horrible reviews . I told him I did not have any money to donate at the moment. 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. I told him that I had some questions for him before I would donate. 7:35 AM EDT, Fri October 16, 2020. We support police officers who risk their lives daily protecting our communities. Our Police, Firefighters, and all First Responders do need our support. Go to their website and give there or call the number listed. Registration with any of these state agencies does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by any state. California Proposition 25 Defeated, Thanks in Part to Local Efforts 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. 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 voices could be heard in the background. 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/. About $1.8 million went toward the salaries of union officials, including $199,700 for Cabral, the president. National Police Support Fund - Grassroots Support for Police Below are our favorite charities for law enforcement: National Police Foundation. 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. Even if you like the idea, how do you know the call is legitimate? A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply. It only means they do not seek to make a profit on their activities. Authorities issue warning about pro-police mail scam - The Union Ten Law Enforcement Groups Among Worst Charities in America Donations have surged to a 'scam' political group that claims - CBS58 Why does this matter? The application also included the name Police Officers Defense Coalition, as well as the Police Officers Defense Alliance. (Santa Rosa, Calf.) I later learned the organization is based in Fairfax, VA, and is a political action committee, or PAC. Fraud Alert: Calls Soliciting Donations for the "National Policing Political organizations including both the Democratic and Republican parties are nonprofits. As we stated earlier, these 50 charities account for almost $1 Billion in 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. Verify: Law enforcement charity phone calls - KSDK Charity Navigator - Rating for National Police Association Inc. It sounded like the solicitor was calling from a boiler room, where individuals dial from a list of working phone numbers. FEC filings show that of the group's minimal political spending, most has gone toward pro-Trump advertising such as billboards. But the groups file financial disclosures with federal regulators under only a handful of names. For more information, please see our This would allow me a chance to talk to your wife about considering further contributions.