is national police support fund legit

So what happened to the other approximately 33% of . Ask for information, check sites like Charitynavigator.org and then if it all checks out, write that check. 7:35 AM EDT, Fri October 16, 2020. Police association scam calls: Don't fall for it, says Bob Ziegelbauer Javascript must be enabled to use this site. The scenario is all too familiar. 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. The Committee for Police Officers Defense, the telemarketers who called me, applied for tax exemption in California. The application also included the name Police Officers Defense Coalition, as well as the Police Officers Defense Alliance. A hustle is like the 70s disco dance. The National Police Support Fund is a national political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. Police charity asking for money - is it a scam? - YouTube 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/. 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). 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. AARP Membership LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. United Police Fund / National Police Fund scam harassment. He also wanted to highlight law enforcements hard work across the country. "The words police and words firefighter are not trademarked," Kemerer explained, "so it is very easy for scammers to use those names and create fake organizations. Is an organization that supports police for donations a charity Watch out for a new "police support fund" scam. On each call, my questions about how donations got spent mostly went unanswered. I quickly identified over 70 super PACs with police or law enforcement in their names. 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. One hit wonders seeking to cash in on the tragedy of the day from floods and fires to missing children and more. A donation of $10, $15 or $25 would help keep . 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. The tour began with 18 members of law enforcement, who rode from New Jersey to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. Their impact and transparency ratings: The Police Unity Tour holds a Financial rating of 84 out of 100 from Charity Navigator. As Smarter Giving notes, what is actually supports is the bank balances of its chief executives. 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. 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. The organization began as a service program providing mentorship and outreach activities to youth as a way to combat juvenile crime. What should we investigate next? 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. 2. Gotten calls like this? Also in Massachusetts, a Wilmington police officer received a call soliciting donations. National Police Support Fund Charity Navigator - Rating for National Police Defense Foundation Just as you sit down to dinner, the phone rings and the caller asks for a donation. The organization began as a service program providing mentorship and outreach activities to youth as a way to combat juvenile crime. But other charities lie about what they do with donations or how much they spend on programs. 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. 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. How much do I need to save for retirement? 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. It appears there are a number of nonprofits up and running under the apparent control of Fotis. In researching the organizations, I discovered numerous similar-sounding names for PACs raising funds for police officers. 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. 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. Kids Wish Network, however, spends only 3 cents of every dollar collected on kids. Several donors said they never would have given money to the group if they knew it would pay for Trump advertisements, including 70-year-old Susan Durie, a self-described bleeding heart liberal Democrat from Los Angeles who donated around $600 and said she felt like a victim of a scam since she thinks she was misled into believing that her donation would go to local police. California resident Kellie Van Westen, 69, said she has family members who are law enforcement officers and that she believed the roughly $1,400 she donated since 2019 would help bolster local police budgets and pay for equipment to keep them safe.. One very common hustle is the name game. Also Check: Do You Have To Pay For A Police Report. I came across ScamPulse.com warning people about donating to the NPSF . When I asked which state this drive was for, the caller could not answer and instead said it is for a national charity. 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. This Florida-based union touts its federal lobbying efforts on behalf of local members. Police charity imposters: Watch out for donation scam phone calls - WITI How to Verify a Military or Veteran Charity is Real 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. Recommended Reading: How Many Hours To Become A Police Officer, Read Also: What Education Do I Need To Be A Police Officer. We found a website for them, but it gives very little information about the organization and their mission. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. 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. If you require additional information, then call us 1-800-247-4872 or email us at: [email protected] 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 (501 (c) 5), donations are not tax . AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. Your email address will not be published. The recording says it is "Kenneth Allen from the National Police Support Fund" and they are asking for donations. nationalpolice.org. They count on local press coverage and a quick website. Most of the money raised went to telemarketing 87 percent and other expenses. He said he wanted a contribution for the police department and man and women who are fighting to protect us. Many of these names could easily be confused with public charities, such as Autism Speaks, National Association of Police Organizations, or Veterans Assistance Foundation. At least seven local police departments from around the country and a state attorney general have issued scam alerts and other notices about these fundraising efforts, warning residents in their communities as recently as this summer that they have no affiliation with this group. The pop-up charity business is usually local, occasionally regional and rarely national. It was raising money using four different police-oriented names (one association, two coalitions and one support fund). He could not answer. 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. Even if you like the idea, how do you know the call is legitimate? Key battles deserve tight alliances. 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! 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. 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. 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. . January 11, 2019. National Police Association (@NatPoliceAssoc) / Twitter . "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. They improvise and evolve to stay one step ahead of unsuspecting donors. Fraud Alert: Calls Soliciting Donations for the "National Policing Donating to help police or other first responders Super PACs are able to raise unlimited amounts of money, which they can use to advocate for political candidates or causes. And some are outright scams. Now, the last thing I want to do is discourage you from giving to causes you care about, like supporting police. For more information, please see our 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 . 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. I started rifling through my mail as he gave me the same exact spiel this time saying he represented United Police support fund. 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. With everything that's happening this pandemic year, people are getting more and more calls to support their local police. Not authorized by any candidate or . Local organizations that raise money on behalf of San Diego law enforcement include: Star/Pal for San Diego Police, which provides educational and recreational services for inner-city youth, and the San Diego County Deputy Sheriffs Foundation, which provides support services for sheriffs personnel and families. Terms & conditions/privacy policy apply https://nationalpolicesupportfund.com/terms-of-service/, Contributions to the National Police Support Fund are not tax deductible. Claire Reiss, 79, said she thought the more than $2,000 she donated would go to injured police and their families, but that she stopped giving away her money when the calls just wouldnt stop. But the groups file financial disclosures with federal regulators under only a handful of names. But whats the truth. PPF has been sued by regulatory agencies in at least six states, including California, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri, and was fined $463,000. I received a call today from someone from The National Police Support Fund, who claimed to be collecting money for a drive. I received a phone call asking me to donate to National Police Support Fund I was going to give them my debit card number over the phone but changed my mind at the last moment. You May Like: Do You Need A Degree To Become A Police Officer. Stated that donations were not tax-deductible. She had noticed the term PAC on receipts she received in the mail but thought that meant the charities were working together and had a pact to support the police cause she believed in. 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. I said no i was told I would be sent a pledge form. 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. 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 organization also has a Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. That means of a $35 donation, no more than $3.50 goes to their stated cause, highest-volume phone messages in most major U.S. markets. This would allow me a chance to talk to your wife about considering further contributions. Is National Police Support Fund Legit - KnowYourPolice.net We use the funds raised from these activities to support elected officials, candidates, and organizations whose goals and values align with our own. Dozens of fake charities scammed donations for veterans the pocketed by Michelle Diament, April 2008. 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. We support police officers who risk their lives daily protecting our communities. Are the money-gathering techniques these scam PACs use illegal? . The calls, which often target elderly donors, come from a variety of generic and similar-sounding aliases: The Police Officers Support Association, the National Emergency Responders Coalition and the National Coalition for Police & Troopers. Only one replied directly: 90 percent went to fundraising, and 10 percent went to police support. Just want you notified that they are calling on area code 203 #s in CT now. You read that correctly. 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. 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. One of the more successful scams is when the scammer poses as one of many charities benefitting Law Enforcement. A warning tonight about calls targeting people around the Tri-State asking them to help support the police. And that is likely the point. Fake joke to start out. On each call, my questions about how donations got spent mostly went unanswered. Legitimate charities can be checked on websites such as www.guidestar.org. Ask if the donation is tax-deductible. 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. Operators who are so susprised it's scam. 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. 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! He said his father has always leaned heavily Democratic, supported President Barack Obama and previously expressed strong anti-Trump views. Here are the Top 7 Amazon scam calls. 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. An image from Law Enforcement For A Safer America PAC's Facebook page. Im calling on behalf of the National Save the Police Fund,* the voice on the phone told me. To raise awareness of Law Enforcement Officers who have died in the line of duty. 2023 Cable News Network. So have we all. This comes at a time when some community activists have been calling for defunding the police. Published Ten Law Enforcement Groups Among Worst Charities in America he transferred me to check my address. 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. The call came to Get Gephardt to investigate who exactly it is that's making those calls. When I asked which state this drive was for, the caller could not answer and instead said it is for a national charity. You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. Three other IUPA executives earned more than $100,000 apiece during fiscal 2017-2018. 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. The robot voice saying the call would be recorded for record purposes sounded so real but it was just him. It was found that only 2.7% of donations to the relief fund actually went to the families of fallen officers. The recording says it is "Kenneth Allen from the National Police Support Fund" and they are asking for donations.