Beware: That Call for Police Donations May Be from a Political Action FTC Announces Operation False Charity Law Enforcement Sweep Instead, theyre independent, expenditure-only political action committees, or super PACs. 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. I told him I did not have any money to donate at the moment. But whats the truth. 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. That group calling you about donating to fallen officers? It's a huge scam. KENNER, LA (WVUE) - The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office warns of a scam from the "American Police Officers Alliance" asking for donations for law enforcement. 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. 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. 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. 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. A 5 On Your Side viewer got one of those calls recently, asking him to support the National Police and Troopers Association.But before saying yes, he called us to ask if it was legit. 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. 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. The call came to Get Gephardt to investigate who exactly it is that's making those calls. At the end of 2021, robocalls raising money for police groups were thehighest-volume phone messages in most major U.S. markets, according to Nomorobo, a robocall-blocking company that works with AARP on fraud prevention. AARP Membership - LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. So, the next time you get this call, hang up. 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. : r/Scams. Javascript must be enabled to use this site. They are the tragi-charities. We use the funds raised from these activities to support elected officials, candidates, and organizations whose goals and values align with our own. 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! Here are some things you can do to avoid donating to a fake charity: Pay attention to the charity's name. You read that correctly. He said his father served in the Navy for nearly two decades and was always proud of his service. You can find more information about "who is the National Police Support . What can we learn from the latest Coinbase cyberattack? In two words, its not. appreciated. Is The National Police Support Fund Legitimate This comes at a time when some community activists have been calling for "defunding" the police. 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. Ive become suspicious after reading what they had to say . The usual claiming they were legitimate. Years later, as the success of the . Is an organization that supports police for donations a charity The calls asking for donations come from aliases like the Police Officers Support Association and The National Coalition for Police & Troopers. The charitys programs focus primarily on education, mentorship, and athletic activities that empower youth. . I confronted him that if they were legit, why it was that they are labeled as a scam operation. The application also included the name Police Officers Defense Coalition, as well as the Police Officers Defense Alliance. Marine Toys for Tots Foundation (Triangle, Va.) Committee for Missing Children (Lawrenceville, Ga.) Prevent Child . There have been calls circulating from a Police Officers Support Association asking for credit card donations. By choosing the . FEC filings show that of the group's minimal political spending, most has gone toward pro-Trump advertising such as billboards. As an example, he cites former Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County in Arizona. 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. If it is a scam they are awfully convincing on the phone but are also rather forceful. "Being that it was a recording right off the bat . We won't use your email for any other purpose, and you can opt out at any time via an unsubscribe link. That link will take you to Illinois, where I live. This person spoke broken english and told me to donate using credit card. Trade groups like those that represent the fast food or soft drink producers operate as nonprofits. Investigation: Is National Police Support Fund actually a massive scam 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. Learn about the latest anti-police movement, Download our 2022 police ballot measures analysis, Download our 2022 law enforcement support guide, Virginia Election Ad by National Police Support Fund, Pro-Police Organizations Worked Together to Get Out the Vote & Boosts Conservative Turnout in NoVa, https://nationalpolicesupportfund.com/terms-of-service/. National Police and Troopers Association - NPTA - Yelp 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. How to report a scammer? American Association of State Troopers claims to support retired state troopers. National Police Support Fund is a national political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. One hit wonders seeking to cash in on the tragedy of the day from floods and fires to missing children and more. Eagerly he asked if I was comfortable with that amount. 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. Bass, who set up several other super PACs, declined to comment. The BBB said days later, the New Jersey State Police photo had been removed from the site. Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps"). One woman received a call from the . He seemed okay with it. Three other IUPA executives earned more than $100,000 apiece during fiscal 2017-2018. The National Police Support Fund : r/Scams - reddit Follow John on Instagram @johnmataresemoney, For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com. 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. The Police Unity Tour was founded in 1997 by Patrick Montuore, a police officer from New Jersey. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee.Paid for by National Police Support Fund, Inc. |Privacy & Refund Policy| Sitemap, Biggest Issues Facing Police Officers Today. I recently took about a dozen of these police-support calls to hear the pitches. 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. 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. 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. Wow! Our movement is comprised of tens of thousands of Americans from all walks of life who are joined together by their common respect for the rule of law and united in their support for the police officers who put their lives on the line every day in their communities. 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. "As Pennsylvanians look to support [] generic photos, there is no real content validating that they do anything to actually support the police. Is the American police officers Alliance legit? - iPhone Forum We are entering the crucial last minutes of our ongoing struggle to defend police officers. 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. Hispanic Federation (New York City) Abandoned Children's Fund. So have we all. About $1.8 million went toward the salaries of union officials, including $199,700 for Cabral, the president. Soft on Crime groups are targeting record numbers of individual law enforcement officers in law suits for police brutality. The caller said he was phoning on behalf of the Committee for Police Officers Defense. National Police Support Fund is a national political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. 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. Scam PACs? Two Groups Claim To Support Vets And Cops While - Forbes 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. Find out now: How much do I need to save for retirement? Can the police officers count on you?. 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. Write the names of the shady businesses in the comments section below, too. 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/. On 10/29/20 a man called to get pledges for national police support fund. National Police Support Fund - Grassroots Support for Police To find out more about these organizations, I probed the FEC website, where super PACs report their activity. Please let me know if there are any actions ScamPulse.com suggests I take other than ignore any future requests. He gave a range of donations to be made . 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. Contributions are not tax deductible. I quickly identified over 70 super PACs with police or law enforcement in their names. Campaign finance data, however, shows that about 98% of the money spent is not being used for this mission. Cookie Notice Authorities issue warning about pro-police mail scam - The Union It was raising money using four different police-oriented names (one association, two coalitions and one support fund). Ten Law Enforcement Groups Among Worst Charities in America POLICING THE MOST DANGEROUS CITY IN THE COUNTRY: What do Chicago's LEO's and citizens think? We do not support nor do we condone this group, the post stated. I asked them to mail me a bill instead and they did , I called the phone number on the letter and did not get a respond so I decided to go to their website . Contributions made to National Police Support Fund are not tax-deductible. 7:35 AM EDT, Fri October 16, 2020. 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. Getting 3 to 5 calls a day from 315-410-0874 phone number. 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. For more information, please see our But the groups file financial disclosures with federal regulators under only a handful of names. Police charity caution: How to know if it's a scam - WCPO National Police Association (@NatPoliceAssoc) / Twitter ', Fleeing Suspect Arrested on Trolley After Man Stabbed Multiple Times Downtown, San Diego Neo-Nazi Robert Wilson Suspected in Anne Frank House Incident, Sierra Snowpack Grows to Nearly Double Normal, Easing California Drought, Theatre Week Becomes Theatre Month Enjoy Deals As Low As $15 All Through March, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. highest-volume phone messages in most major U.S. markets, A caregiver discovers questionable charities are targeting her parents for their money, Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term -43% off the standard annual rate, Access exclusive discounts, programs, & services, Double down with a FREE second membership. Fraud Alert! National Police Support Fund - Angie Ward Kids Wish Network, however, spends only 3 cents of every dollar collected on kids. 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. California Proposition 25 Defeated, Thanks in Part to Local Efforts 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. 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. These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. 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. Published 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. Read Also: What Are The Steps To Becoming A Police Officer. If they are PACs, the fundraising effort is politically motivated and wont necessarily support San Diego-area officers or deputies or their families. In the case of National Police Support Fund, we accept contributions and make expenditures in order to influence the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of candidates to federal, state, and local offices. After further investigation, they are not approved by the better business bureau and they have nothing but horrible reviews . 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. 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). 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.. She remembers news stories two years ago, about 67-year-old Jerry Hinkle, a Cincinnati man who raised thousands of dollars for the Shop with a Cop program, then admitted in court that he spent it on personal expenses (the case ended with a plea agreement). Promoting divisive rhetoric is detrimental to the public safety mission that requires any genuine law enforcement organization to be accountable to its constituents. So what happened to the other approximately 33% of . The National Police Association is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization, IRS NTEE classification code B01, Alliance/Advocacy Organizations, within the Educational . 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 mailing scam, which was identified in a CNN article last fall and had already targeted residents in eastern states including Massachusetts and Wisconsin, asks recipients of the letter to donate $20 to an organization misleadingly calling itself the "Police Officers Support Association, PAC" according to Grass Valley Police Sgt. Another useful fact: Organizations that file reports with the FEC have to list a treasurer. 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.