This Florida-based union touts its federal lobbying efforts on behalf of local members. 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 . 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. 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. "Being that it was a recording right off the bat . UPDATE 2020-10-29: Another new call from 585-206-3552 with a similar pre-recorded voice auto-responder identifying as 'Jeff Scott' with the National Police Support Fund. FEC filings show that of the group's minimal political spending, most has gone toward pro-Trump advertising such as billboards. 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. As we stated earlier, these 50 charities account for almost $1 Billion in donations. In this case, the pitch was for money for helping police officers in the continuing war against cops.. What should we investigate next? But none of the money being raised actually goes to police departments, according to government records. Contributions made to National Police Support Fund are not tax-deductible. 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). Use a search engine to look for " your state + charity list ". Contributions are not tax deductible. Some tips for consumers: Listen carefully for the name of the organization. It was found that only 2.7% of donations to the relief fund actually went to the families of fallen officers. In fact, they count on the confusion to gather contributions. The organization began as a service program providing mentorship and outreach activities to youth as a way to combat juvenile crime. National Police Defense Foundation has earned a 81% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. National Police Association Inc. has earned a 60% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. Alexandria, VA. National Police Support Fund and United Police Fund came together this November to urge Northern Virginians to get out the vote in, National Police Support Fund, Inc.Office/Mailing Address:2800 Eisenhower Drive Suite 220Alexandria, VA 22314, Donation Processing Center:PO Box 26248Alexandria, VA 22313-2648, Phone: (571) 364-6520Email: info@nationalpolicesupportfund.com, By providing your phone number, you are consenting to receive calls and SMS/MMS msgs, including autodialed and automated calls and texts using prerecorded voice, to that number from the National Police Support Fund. Super PACs are able to raise unlimited amounts of money, which they can use to advocate for political candidates or causes. 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. After further investigation, they are not approved by the better business bureau and they have nothing but horrible reviews . And some are outright scams. Trade groups like those that represent the fast food or soft drink producers operate as nonprofits. Tax records show the Fotis organization that phoned me raised $75,000 in 2021, up from $50,000 the year before. 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. 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. Many donors say they believed they were supporting a charity that helps local officers. . 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. In researching the organizations, I discovered numerous similar-sounding names for PACs raising funds for police officers. It appears there are a number of nonprofits up and running under the apparent control of Fotis. Virginia incorporation papers show James Fotis is president of the Alliance and changed the name to the Defense Coalition. 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. 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. Watch out for a new "police support fund" scam. 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 . We highly encourage our followers to verify who they are making donations to when contacted for fundraisers.. 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. As a result, he had a positive outlook on military and all law enforcement officers, Busse said, but he never expressed any particular interest in supporting the police through financial donations.. During the pandemic, a plethora of fraudulent websites came out like a plague. For anyone interested in supporting law enforcement, experts say, think local. And soon, you say, sure, why not? Hispanic Federation (New York City) Abandoned Children's Fund. Privacy Policy. Lots of different special interest groups are nonprofits, including some private businesses that pay their executives quite well. 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. Bass, who set up several other super PACs, declined to comment. The scenario is all too familiar. This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies. 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. How much do I need to save for retirement? They improvise and evolve to stay one step ahead of unsuspecting donors. 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). 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. I said no i was told I would be sent a pledge form. The cause sounds worthy: Please support your local firefighters (or police officers), the caller implores. Government documents show that the founding treasurer is currently an executive at the International Union of Police Associations. 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. Soft on Crime groups are targeting record numbers of individual law enforcement officers in law suits for police brutality. 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. On each call, my questions about how donations got spent mostly went unanswered. If you want fundraisers to stop calling, ask them to put you on the charitys do not call list. But then she started to worry, especially when she couldn't find the group listed as a charity anywhere online. Required fields are marked *. Phony Firefighters Scam. I did not feel comfortable giving the information over the phone . And it's very easy to catch the eye of someone.". Msg&data rates may apply. AARP Membership LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. That is equivalent to 2.7 percent of the $2.7 million the organization raised from donors that year, according to its federal tax return. 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. I told him that there is no such thing as a National Police Trust Fund. 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. I started rifling through my mail as he gave me the same exact spiel this time saying he represented United Police support fund. Mostly they are the products of individual scammers who smell an opportunity to cash in using the name of a victim who may or may not even be real. Our mission is to promote the interests of our nation's police officers within our nation's political and public policy process. 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. Now, the last thing I want to do is discourage you from giving to causes you care about, like supporting police. Law enforcement has a tough enough job without having to put up with charlatans masquerading as heroes. The caller said he was phoning on behalf of the Committee for Police Officers Defense. Wendy is fine with that and will sleep better now. Multiple attempted calls from one number. Operators who are so susprised it's scam. Tax filings also show that the union operates its own call center and that a company the union controls purchased a nearly 20,000 square foot office building valued at more than $2.5 million, where the union is now based. The charitys programs focus primarily on education, mentorship, and athletic activities that empower youth. Please let me know if there are any actions ScamPulse.com suggests I take other than ignore any future requests. ThePAC, organized by Zachary Bass, spent 90% of its take on fundraising, campaign filings show. 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. Law Enforcement for a Safer America has raked in nearly $10 million in donations from January 2019 to June 2020 . 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. Kids Wish Network, however, spends only 3 cents of every dollar collected on kids. Read Also: What Are The Best Police Boots, Read Also: How Do I Become A K9 Police Officer. he transferred me to check my address. 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. Help us grow with a monthly contribution. The National Police Association files amicus brief opposing Oregon's attempt to criminalize law abiding gun owners. It was raising money using four different police-oriented names (one "association," two "coalitions" and one "support fund"). Free online workshop! As an example, he cites former Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County in Arizona. We won't use your email for any other purpose, and you can opt out at any time via an unsubscribe link. Wow! 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. Last month the National Police Association (NPA) filed an ethics complaint against Rachael Rollins, the new district attorney for Suffolk County, Massachusetts (who recently . She verified my information and repeatedly asked me to promise to mail it back as soon as I received it. Political organizations including both the Democratic and Republican parties are nonprofits. These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. 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. 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. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply. The BBB said days later, the New Jersey State Police photo had been removed from the site. 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.

Bausch And Lomb Horizon Rewards Visa Card Balance, Gear Accountability For Police Officers, Joe Penna Deutsche Bank, Amusement Park Cars For Sale, Articles I