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. They are the tragi-charities. By choosing the . A: The National Police Support Fund is a grassroots nonprofit political organization founded in 2017 under Section 527 of the IRS tax code. 'Scam PACs' Are On the Rise: Don't Confuse Them for Legitimate Recommended Reading: How Many Hours To Become A Police Officer, Read Also: What Education Do I Need To Be A Police Officer. Here's the truth behind the 'National Police Association'and its shady generic photos, there is no real content validating that they do anything to actually support the police. National Police Support Fund is a grassroots political organization that is committed to aligning the interests and needs of police officers with the publics issues and concerns within the national political process. proudly complies with state regulations and required disclosures. The 20 Worst Charities You Shouldn't Be Donating To - Money Inc 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. Free online workshop! Another charity that should come with a "donator, beware" sign is the Police Protection Fund. I should have been more aware that it sounded fishy and of course just saw the ScamPulse.com warning. Contributions made to National Police Support Fund are not tax-deductible. National Police support fund {February 2023} Reviews, Is National He seemed okay with it. The cause sounds worthy: Please support your local firefighters (or police officers), the caller implores. The fundraisers connection to the charity. This person spoke broken english and told me to donate using credit card. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. 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. Our free newsletter is delivered at 8 a.m. daily. 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. This all looks very peculiar, said Richard Briffault, a professor at Columbia Law School who specializes in campaign finance. The organization began as a service program providing mentorship and outreach activities to youth as a way to combat juvenile crime. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. 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. . 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. Can the police officers count on you?. 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/. nationalpolicesupportfund.com Review - Scam Detector This comes at a time when some community activists have been calling for "defunding" the police. Home - LEORF For anyone interested in supporting law enforcement, experts say, think local. Law Enforcement for a Safer America does not disclose on its website who is running the super PAC, but public filings reveal that leaders of one of the countrys largest police unions are pulling the strings. Virginia incorporation papers show James Fotis is president of the Alliance and changed the name to the Defense Coalition. National Police Support Fund | Alexandria VA - Facebook Is The National Police Support Fund Legitimate He could not answer. 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. Unable to verify the federal tax ID, redirected to a toll-free number. Operators who are so susprised it's scam. Ways to contribute: You can contribute to the Police Unity Tour by donating through their website. 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. National Police Defense Foundation has earned a 81% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. As Smarter Giving notes, what is actually supports is the bank balances of its chief executives. 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. Spokane-area residents question calls from national police - KREM 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. The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) is a coalition of police unions and associations from across the United States and was organized for the purpose of advancing the interests of America's law enforcement officers through legislative advocacy, political action and education. 4 talking about this. Wendy Beckman got a call the other day from a man asking her to help retired police and firefighters. You read that correctly. 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 application also included the name Police Officers Defense Coalition, as well as the Police Officers Defense Alliance. If your phone rings, it's not us. The National Police Association files amicus brief opposing Oregon's attempt to criminalize law abiding gun owners. Leaving politics aside for a minute, how do you know if those calls are legitimate? These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. Some telemarketers who claim to be raising money for causes like homeless veterans and cancer victims work for political action committees , not charities, and keep much of the money they raise. Just hang up. Registration with any of these state agencies does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by any state. 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. 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. Did you encounter any technical issues? Donating to help police or other first responders Join AARP for just $9 per yearwhen you sign up for a 5-year term. Authorities issue warning about pro-police mail scam - The Union 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 found a few small line items labeled legislative services, but none that appeared to go directly to supporting police. Do police call for donations? Best and Worst Charities for Your Donations - Consumer Reports The National Police Support Fund : r/Scams - reddit 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! 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 . Across the industry, calls are computer-generated before being routed to telemarketers, something Politicause and TPFE employees said allowed their firms to maximize the number of calls and to pester people repeatedly. 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. I told him that I had some questions for him before I would donate. The I.U.P.A. Required fields are marked *. Please reload the page and try again. . Also Check: Do You Have To Pay For A Police Report. Dozens of fake charities scammed donations for veterans the pocketed He was donating to anyone who asked him for money, he said. "So I really want to support the police for what they do.". The charitys affiliation with the government. Watch out for a new "police support fund" scam. National Police Support Fund proudly complies with state regulations and required disclosures. National Association of Police Athletics/Activities League. "My brother was a police officer, my cousin was a cop and one of my sons is a cop," she said. Our grassroots organization was formed under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, which allows us to engage in political activity. Busse said he and his sister took over their fathers finances last year. The source of the funding information was OpenSecrets, a database that tracks spending in U.S. politics run by the Center for Responsive Politics. Each organization says it is spending money for police officers being abused and unfairly targeted. 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. Are robo-calls from the 'Committee for Police Officers' Defense' (aka 9 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. Donations have surged to a 'scam' political group that claims - CNN See the metrics below for more information. An IRS report was filed on July 26. Trade groups like those that represent the fast food or soft drink producers operate as nonprofits. Has anyone else recently seen an uptick and calls from various police support organizations? Fraud Alert! National Police Support Fund - Angie Ward He said that although it is more expensive for super PACs to solicit small donations which is what this one is doing spending so much on operations and so little on political activities is unusual. 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 . The safest way to donate on social media or crowdfunding campaign is to give to people you actually know. 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 organization began as a service program providing mentorship and outreach activities to youth as a way to combat juvenile crime. National Police Association Inc. has earned a 60% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. Legitimate charities can be checked on websites such as www.guidestar.org. Ask if the donation is tax-deductible. The Committee for Police Officers Defense, the telemarketers who called me, applied for tax exemption in California. Money donated to this group might be used for political purposes and will not be used for direct help to police or troopers, Fox wrote. Phone Calls for Donations to the Police Could be a Scam - AARP I was contacted in Wilton, CT by representatives of the National Police Support Fund. 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. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. I later learned the organization is based in Fairfax, VA, and is a political action committee, or PAC. Read Also: What Are The Steps To Becoming A Police Officer. I asked him where the money goes. When I googled the fund, a BBB caution was the first result. The man on the other end of the phone is asking for money for the protection of police officers. 2. Police association scam calls: Don't fall for it, says Bob Ziegelbauer He said he wanted a contribution for the police department and man and women who are fighting to protect us. I also learned that they were sued in the biggest FTC case in history. Concerns of Police Survivors. Stated that donations were not tax-deductible. And the Morton Police Department in Illinois posted on Facebook about calls from a mysterious phone number with a local area code last year. 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. 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. See the metrics below for more information. The scenario is all too familiar. 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. Phony Firefighters Scam. All Rights Reserved. Learn more about how we use cookies in our cookie policy. @GunOwners. The robot voice saying the call would be recorded for record purposes sounded so real but it was just him. Do You Have To Call The Police After An Accident, How Long Does It Take To Get Into Police Academy, How Many People Were Killed By Police In 2020, Where To File A Police Report For Car Accident. I've asked them repeatedly to stop calling this typically results in additional calls back to back from different numbers. Use a search engine to look for " your state + charity list ". What should we investigate next? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Beware scams posing as Law Enforcement fundraisers! Our mission is to promote the interests of our nation's police officers within our nation's political and public policy process. 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. 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 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. 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. 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. People are receiving phone scam calls asking for donations to help out local police departments or slain and wounded police offers. Wow! AARP Membership LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. 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. Write the names of the shady businesses in the comments section below, too. National Police Association | Educating supporters of law enforcement In the wake of tragedies large and small, they pop up like mushrooms after a rain. When I asked which state this drive was for, the caller could not answer and instead said it is for a national charity. 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. 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. Woman calls out scammer after hearing about it on the news Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. The Police Unity Tour was founded in 1997 by Patrick Montuore, a police officer from New Jersey. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Other policies that the NPA promotes include aggressive stop-and-frisk tactics and broken windows policingstrategies that have resulted in unconstitutional practices that undermine civil liberties. When a solicitor for one of these groups calls a prospective donor the pitch will include the truthful statement that they are a nonprofit organization. 7:35 AM EDT, Fri October 16, 2020. The recording says it is "Kenneth Allen from the National Police Support Fund" and they are asking for donations. The groups videos have received few views, but money has been pouring 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. To find out more about these organizations, I probed the FEC website, where super PACs report their activity. The charitys programs focus primarily on education, mentorship, and athletic activities that empower youth. 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. She said she was told the group was a charity benefiting police and troopers. We found a website for them, but it gives very little information about the organization and their mission. 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.. And that is likely the point. Sara Kemerer of the . The website soliciting funds for Arpaio says, Liberals have targeted Sheriff Joe Arpaio with a multi-million dollar lawsuit (that could even result in jail time) because he was upholding the law of the land.. Do police call for donations? - JacAnswers Many of these names could easily be confused with public charities, such as Autism Speaks, National Association of Police Organizations, or Veterans Assistance Foundation. How 'Scam PACs' reap millions in the name of heart-tugging causes Find Best Charities To Donate | Charity Ratings, Reviews Investigation: Is National Police Support Fund actually a massive scam 9 Best Charities for Law Enforcement in the US (Complete 2023 List) Founded in 1978, NAPO is the strongest unified . 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).
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