Write the names of the shady businesses in the comments section below, too. National Police Support Fund is a national political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. The cause sounds worthy: Please support your local firefighters (or police officers), the caller implores. PPF has been sued by regulatory agencies in at least six states, including California, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri, and was fined $463,000. 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. Sara Kemerer of the . Our officers deserve our respect and support, the Super PACs website reads. 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). 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. Bass, who set up several other super PACs, declined to comment. We found a website for them, but it gives very little information about the organization and their mission. I quickly identified over 70 super PACs with police or law enforcement in their names. One of the more successful scams is when the scammer poses as one of many charities benefitting Law Enforcement. The first one, the texh . 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 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. Wendy Beckman got a call the other day from a man asking her to help retired police and firefighters. "My brother was a police officer, my cousin was a cop and one of my sons is a cop," she said. by Michelle Diament, April 2008. 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. Operators who are so susprised it's scam. It also concerned him that so many prospects were elderly. It wasnt the usual automated call, and hearing a human voice kept me on the line. But then she started to worry, especially when she couldn't find the group listed as a charity anywhere online. he transferred me to check my address. According to the complaint, DPSF conned people into donating more than $9.9 million. FEC filings show that of the group's minimal political spending, most has gone toward pro-Trump advertising such as billboards. 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. The group's videos have received few views, but money has been pouring in. 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.. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. National Police Support Fund is a national political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. 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. These charities usually rake in a few thousand dollars and disappear. Cookie Notice The union has recently claimed to have more than 100,000 members, but the IUPA has reported around 20,000 members in tax filings. 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. So have we all. That way, you avoid all of . Why does this matter? 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. A Warner Bros. ThePAC, organized by Zachary Bass, spent 90% of its take on fundraising, campaign filings show. I should have been more aware that it sounded fishy and of course just saw the ScamPulse.com warning. The Greenfield, Massachusetts, police department warned about the group last year as well. Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps"). SCAM: National Police Support Fund donation. This section is used to influence public opinion in support of the interests of . 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. Most of the money raised went to telemarketing 87 percent and other expenses. 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/. The recording says it is "Kenneth Allen from the National Police Support Fund" and they are asking for donations. We strive to engage the public through political grassroots activity to support political interests that promote officer's interests. The source of the funding information was OpenSecrets, a database that tracks spending in U.S. politics run by the Center for Responsive Politics. 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. It said callers were soliciting support for police officers but that the group was actually connected to a political action committee. Please let me know if there are any actions ScamPulse.com suggests I take other than ignore any future requests. I looked up one called Law Enforcement for a Safer America PAC, which seemed to be especially active, based on Nomorobos monitoring. 4 talking about this. For example, in 2019, nearly 90% of the organizations income was spent on its programming. The Committee for Police Officers Defense, the telemarketers who called me, applied for tax exemption in California. A hustle is like the 70s disco dance. 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. Charities face relatively rigorous review from the Internal Revenue Service, and most states require them to register before they can operate there. Kids Wish Network, however, spends only 3 cents of every dollar collected on kids. Join AARP for just $9 per yearwhen you sign up for a 5-year term. 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. Law enforcement has a tough enough job without having to put up with charlatans masquerading as heroes. A profit according to Investopedia.com is revenue that exceeds expenses. What can we learn from the latest Coinbase cyberattack? 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. The Better Business Bureau conducted an investigation and found . Pearl S Buck International's stated purpose is to provide opportunities to explore and appreciate other cultures, build better lives for children around the globe and promote the legacy of our founder by preserving and interpreting her National Historic Landmark home. The Arizona Fraternal Order of Police is a real organization, but protect yourself and ask questions when you receive calls like these. I confronted him that if they were legit, why it was that they are labeled as a scam operation. At times, I thought they were maybe misguided, he said. The groups videos have received few views, but money has been pouring in. By choosing the . But whats the truth. Wendy is fine with that and will sleep better now. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. I asked him if the organization supports Donald Trump. Registration with any of these state agencies does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by any state. These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. The I.U.P.A. If you want to donate money for your police or fire department, send your contribution to the local sheriff or chiefs directly. Individual officers can also become members, according to its website. On each call, my questions about how donations got spent mostly went unanswered. But none of the money being raised actually goes to police departments, according to government records. 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. And some are outright scams. It was raising money using four different police-oriented names (one "association," two "coalitions" and one "support fund"). Our free newsletter is delivered at 8 a.m. daily. Multiple voices could be heard in the background. The charitys programs focus primarily on education, mentorship, and athletic activities that empower youth. As an example, he cites former Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County in Arizona. 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. Dont send your money to a national group collecting for causes that may not always be clear. 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. Watch out for a new "police support fund" scam. A: The National Police Support Fund is a grassroots nonprofit political organization founded in 2017 under Section 527 of the IRS tax code. 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 . @GunOwners. "The National Police Support Fund is neither a 501(c)3 nor a 501(c)4 organization, but rather a political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. The case has not yet been resolved. They are the tragi-charities. 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. 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. The usual claiming they were legitimate. During the pandemic, a plethora of fraudulent websites came out like a plague. IRS reports show that in 2011 alone, executive director Ken Howles drew an $87000 salary of the little money left over, only around 9-14% made its way into the hands of the troopers. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Not authorized by any candidate or . In a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission, another woman, whose name was redacted, said she received multiple calls from the National Coalition for Police and Troopers, one of the super PACs various aliases. How to report a scammer? 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. All Rights Reserved. I received a call today from someone from The National Police Support Fund, who claimed to be collecting money for a drive. They improvise and evolve to stay one step ahead of unsuspecting donors. . Gotten calls like this? Im calling on behalf of the National Save the Police Fund,* the voice on the phone told me. Eagerly he asked if I was comfortable with that amount. National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues. Especially after a tragedy or military-related event, fundraisers and causes show up on social media and people create crowdfunding campaigns to help those affected. "So I really want to support the police for what they do.". He paused for a few seconds and said "okay, bye" and hung up the phone. 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. See the metrics below for more information. Around 200 consumer complaints have also been made to state and federal regulators about the super PAC, its aliases and related groups. About $1.8 million went toward the salaries of union officials, including $199,700 for Cabral, the president. The vast majority of donations since 2019 were under $200, meaning the funds came from tens of thousands of donors. 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. Our grassroots organization was formed under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, which allows us to engage in political activity. First Responders Children's Foundation. 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. 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. 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. This policy has been repudiated by a significant number of law enforcement leaders, whose experience has led them to conclude that it would make their communities unsafe. 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. I did not feel comfortable giving the information over the phone . I got a call from them saying it was the time of year to start up the donation drive, and the phone operator tries his best to kay in with a guilt trip to get you to "donate." Enter address: This website, like most media sites, uses small files called cookies to anonymously customize the advertising that you see. To find out more about these organizations, I probed the FEC website, where super PACs report their activity. On its donate page, the NPA boasts of its work to preserve the American way of life and fight back against cop-haters. Use a search engine to look for " your state + charity list ". 2. Up to June 2020, only 2% of the groups spending went toward political activities mainly for advertisements supporting President Donald Trumps reelection, according to data filed with the FEC. Leaving politics aside for a minute, how do you know if those calls are legitimate? It appears there are a number of nonprofits up and running under the apparent control of Fotis. The calls asking for donations come from aliases like the Police Officers Support Association and The National Coalition for Police & Troopers. President Trump pardoned the sheriff even after the Department of Justice described Arpaio as being responsible for the worst case of racial profiling in U.S. history. She said she was told the group was a charity benefiting police and troopers. Many of these names could easily be confused with public charities, such as Autism Speaks, National Association of Police Organizations, or Veterans Assistance Foundation.
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