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. I asked him where the money goes. The National Police Support Fund is a national political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. A special program within the International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO.Speaking With One Voice, Moving With One Purpose. He seemed okay with it. Concerns of Police Survivors. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Many legitimate charities support local firefighters and police, active duty military, and veterans, or their families. And that is likely the point. I feel they abuse their use of the name to maybe convey a false sense to the community about who they are and what they really do with the money.. 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.. Gotten calls like this? National Police Association Inc. has earned a 60% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. Get a FREE subscription to AARP The Magazine. She verified my information and repeatedly asked me to promise to mail it back as soon as I received it. It was found that only 2.7% of donations to the relief fund actually went to the families of fallen officers. 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. Kids Wish Network, however, spends only 3 cents of every dollar collected on kids. FEC filings show that of the group's minimal political spending, most has gone toward pro-Trump advertising such as billboards. 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. Learn more about how we use cookies in our cookie policy. Published On its donate page, the NPA boasts of its work to preserve the American way of life and fight back against cop-haters. . "Being that it was a recording right off the bat . 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. National Police Support Fund is a national political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. Only one replied directly: 90 percent went to fundraising, and 10 percent went to police support. . The groups videos have received few views, but money has been pouring in. National Police Support Fund is dedicated to providing a united voice for true Americans who support our nation's law enforcement officers. The Police Unity Tour was founded in 1997 by Patrick Montuore, a police officer from New Jersey. 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 cause sounds worthy: Please support your local firefighters (or police officers), the caller implores. "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. When I googled the fund, a BBB caution was the first result. 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.. I recently took about a dozen of these police-support calls to hear the pitches. Registration with any of these state agencies does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by any state. nationalpolice.org. 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. I received a call today from someone from The National Police Support Fund, who claimed to be collecting money for a drive. Some tips for consumers: Listen carefully for the name of the organization. To promote the prevention of juvenile crime and violence by building relationships among kids, cops and community through positive engagement. The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities League was founded in 1940 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. One hit wonders seeking to cash in on the tragedy of the day from floods and fires to missing children and more. We are entering the crucial last minutes of our ongoing struggle to defend police officers. And soon, you say, sure, why not? I said I do not donate over the phone, he said I did not need to they would mail me a pledge kit. Also in Massachusetts, a Wilmington police officer received a call soliciting donations. To find out more about these organizations, I probed the FEC website, where super PACs report their activity. For example, a very well known and respected group is the Make a Wish Foundation. And the Morton Police Department in Illinois posted on Facebook about calls from a mysterious phone number with a local area code last year. Is National police Support Fund legit? 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. Simple web searches can show that the 'charitable organization' calling either 1 . Key battles deserve tight alliances. AARP Membership - LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. A profit according to Investopedia.com is revenue that exceeds expenses. We support police officers who risk their lives daily protecting our communities. Recommended Reading: How To Become A Desk Police Officer, Also Check: Can Police Help Me Unlock My Car. You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. The application also included the name Police Officers Defense Coalition, as well as the Police Officers Defense Alliance. 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. Below are our favorite charities for law enforcement: National Police Foundation. Fake joke to start out. The I.U.P.A. Required fields are marked *. I've asked them repeatedly to stop calling this typically results in additional calls back to back from different numbers. A hustle is like the 70s disco dance. Woman suspicious after calls to help police. What they do: The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities League aims to minimize juvenile crime through outreach programs that pair officers with youth. The Committee for Police Officers Defense, the telemarketers who called me, applied for tax exemption in California. This organization spends the vast majority of its donations on children. So have we all. 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). Whoops! Have a problem?Send me an email, at jmatarese@wcpo.com or message me on Facebook. Post has been removed or is no longer public. 2023 Cable News Network. We warn against them because they come off as supportive of the Greenfield Police Department, or the local police, and yet they do not do anything for us, said police Chief Robert Haigh Jr. These tend to be monies for their own agendas, and not based on the locals. @GunOwners. But as I learned, these callers are masters at evading any such disclosure. Wendy is fine with that and will sleep better now. The group's videos have received few views, but money has been pouring in. Has anyone else recently seen an uptick and calls from various police support organizations? Type of a scam Charity. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription toAARP The Magazine. Read Also: What Are The Steps To Becoming A Police Officer. Our movement is comprised of tens of thousands of Americans from all walks of life who are joined together by their common . Go to their website and give there or call the number listed. 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 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. All Rights Reserved. On each call, my questions about how donations got spent mostly went unanswered. 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. He initially solicited $95 and eventually said he would accept a $15 contribution as an offer of goodwill on my part. It said callers were soliciting support for police officers but that the group was actually connected to a political action committee. For the record, on their website, it never calls itself a charity or non . The answer is that, in many cases, these arent charities at all. 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. I later learned the organization is based in Fairfax, VA, and is a political action committee, or PAC. I received a call today from someone from The National Police Support Fund, who claimed to be collecting money for a drive. This section is used to influence public opinion in support of the interests of . While some donors believe they are donating to . ', 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. 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. He also wanted to highlight law enforcements hard work across the country. National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues. 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. Bass, who set up several other super PACs, declined to comment. 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. Years later, as the success of the . He paused for a few seconds and said "okay, bye" and hung up the phone. 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. BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - From unmarked strip-mall offices in small-town Alabama, the calls go out across the United States, meant to talk people into giving . Our officers deserve our respect and support, the Super PACs website reads. 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. I told him I did not have any money to donate at the moment. Busse said he and his sister took over their fathers finances last year. Hispanic Federation (New York City) Abandoned Children's Fund. First Responders Children's Foundation. The funds raised during their 4-day long ride are donated directly to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Three other IUPA executives earned more than $100,000 apiece during fiscal 2017-2018. 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. 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. Wow! Im calling on behalf of the National Save the Police Fund,* the voice on the phone told me. 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. Entire local police unions, which negotiate collective bargaining agreements for their members, can choose to affiliate with the group. 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. You can find more information about "who is the National Police Support . Many donors say they believed they were supporting a charity that helps local officers. Even if you like the idea, how do you know the call is legitimate? Sadly, it comes down to their choice of words during a pitch; its unlawful to misrepresent how the money will be spent. When I asked which state this drive was for, the caller could not answer and instead said it is for a national charity. This all looks very peculiar, said Richard Briffault, a professor at Columbia Law School who specializes in campaign finance. 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 . Only one replied directly: 90 percent went to fundraising, and 10 percent went to police support. He was super pushy trying to get me to donate for 75,95, 105 dollars. National Police Support Fund brings together Americans from all walks of life united under the banner of respect and support of our nation's law enforcement officers. Simple: less scrutiny. Now those same anarchists that rioted and assaulted law enforcement officers are using the Taliban playbook by destroying public statues and monuments while advocating for defunding law enforcement agencies, a narrator states in a video from July, as protests continued across the country. Email Blake Ellis and Melanie Hicken. Instead, their contributions end up with a super PAC, Law Enforcement for a Safer America, which has ties to a controversial union and spends the majority of its money on its own operating costs. 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. 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 . The Better Business Bureau conducted an investigation and found . Contact us: contact@knowyourpolice.net, SCAM: National Police Support Fund donation, How To Get Insurance Information From Police Report, Is National Police Association Legitimate, How Many Years Of College To Become A Police Officer, Do You Need A Degree To Become A Police Officer, What Are The Steps To Becoming A Police Officer, How Many Hours To Become A Police Officer, What Education Do I Need To Be A Police Officer, How Do You Know If The Police Are Investigating You. What can we learn from the latest Coinbase cyberattack? It appears their lack of transparency regarding where the money goes was the reason for the BBB caution. When I asked which state this drive was for, the caller could not answer and instead said it is for a national charity. In fact, they count on the confusion to gather contributions. They count on local press coverage and a quick website. Among the other warnings: The Miami Township Police in Ohio issued a scam alert in June referencing calls circulating from a Police Officers Support Association asking for credit card donations. The Reading Police Department in Massachusetts described the Police Officers Support Association as a scam charity last year. 4. These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. Absolutely no legitimate law enforcement backed organization would stoop to this level of begging for money. We won't use your email for any other purpose, and you can opt out at any time via an unsubscribe link. Our Police, Firefighters, and all First Responders do need our support. 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. 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. If a charity is forced to move its headquarters to a new state on account of the dodgy dealings and underhand practices its been getting up to in its old home, anyone with any sense should know to keep well away, Unfortunately, the United States Deputy Sheriffs Association is well versed enough in manipulation to convince even the most well-meaning of folk that its still a cause worthy of their support. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Promoting divisive rhetoric is detrimental to the public safety mission that requires any genuine law enforcement organization to be accountable to its constituents. 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. And Law Enforcement for a Safer America appears to be cashing in. National Police Support Fund is a national political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. 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. One very common hustle is the name game. I came across ScamPulse.com warning people about donating to the NPSF . The recording says it is "Kenneth Allen from the National Police Support Fund" and they are asking for donations. In the wake of tragedies large and small, they pop up like mushrooms after a rain. 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. With everything that's happening this pandemic year, people are getting more and more calls to support their local police. In the report, National Police Support Fund reported about $61,000 in . I should have been more aware that it sounded fishy and of course just saw the ScamPulse.com warning. During the pandemic, a plethora of fraudulent websites came out like a plague. Charity hustles work the same way. Once it was blocked through my service provider, an additional phone number began to call my home multiple times a day. What should we investigate next? 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). Msg&data rates may apply. I told him that I had some questions for him before I would donate. Ask for information, check sites like Charitynavigator.org and then if it all checks out, write that check. 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! They would have soundboards with prerecorded bits that would play and give the impression they were talking to a live person but in reality it was just someone playing bits off a soundboard, he said. The recording says it is "Kenneth Allen from the National Police Support Fund" and they are asking for donations. 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. 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.. 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! These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. The union has recently claimed to have more than 100,000 members, but the IUPA has reported around 20,000 members in tax filings. POLICING THE MOST DANGEROUS CITY IN THE COUNTRY: What do Chicago's LEO's and citizens think? I recently took about a dozen of these police-support calls to hear the pitches. About $1.8 million went toward the salaries of union officials, including $199,700 for Cabral, the president. These charities usually rake in a few thousand dollars and disappear. Privacy Policy. Eagerly he asked if I was comfortable with that amount. 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. Police Protection Fund. According to the complaint, DPSF conned people into donating more than $9.9 million. 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. They are the tragi-charities. It was found that only 2.7% of donations to the relief fund actually went to the families of fallen officers. 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. Groups like Antifa and Black Lives Matter have inspired people to assassinate cops on the street. But then she started to worry, especially when she couldn't find the group listed as a charity anywhere online. Cookie Notice The latter is the name of the PAC I found earlier that had raised $3.2 million in contributions. If they are PACs, the fundraising effort is politically motivated and wont necessarily support San Diego-area officers or deputies or their families. See the metrics below for more information. 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. I looked up one called Law Enforcement for a Safer America PAC, which seemed to be especially active, based on Nomorobos monitoring. 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 National Policing Institute, a national, Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization dedicated to advancing policing through science and innovation, has received information from several individuals who have been contacted by solicitors asking for donations in support of the "National Policing Institute," or in some cases the "National Police Fund," which we are not affiliated . He instead provided me with their national number. Unable to verify the federal tax ID, redirected to a toll-free number. We don't engage in telemarketing. We are just passing along the information if you get a suspicious call asking for money for police officers.. He of course provided a non-reassuring answer with no defence when the jig was up, and ended the call. The pop-up charity business is usually local, occasionally regional and rarely national. Wow! National Police Defense Foundation has earned a 81% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. They do disclose, however, that of the nearly $10 million raised, the super PAC gave more money back to the union roughly $350,000 for office, operational and overhead expenses than the $173,500 it spent on political activities between January 2019 and June 2020. 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. Charities face relatively rigorous review from the Internal Revenue Service, and most states require them to register before they can operate there. 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. Each organization says it is spending money for police officers being abused and unfairly targeted. 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. proudly complies with state regulations and required disclosures. But whats the truth. 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. Political organizations including both the Democratic and Republican parties are nonprofits. 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. If you want to donate money for your police or fire department, send your contribution to the local sheriff or chiefs directly. Many of these names could easily be confused with public charities, such as Autism Speaks, National Association of Police Organizations, or Veterans Assistance Foundation. Discovery Company. I told him that there is no such thing as a National Police Trust Fund. But their website and solicitations are designed to look and sound like Make a Wish. Charities face relatively rigorous review from the Internal Revenue Service, and most states require them to register before they can operate there. 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. Getting 3 to 5 calls a day from 315-410-0874 phone number. 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. Our grassroots organization was formed under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, which allows us to engage in political activity. 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. Phony Firefighters Scam. With the generous support of readers like you, Times of San Diego publishes timely and accurate news coverage for a better-informed community. On 11/4 another local call came it was the same man! 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. Another charity that should come with a "donator, beware" sign is the Police Protection Fund. he transferred me to check my address. 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.