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Connecticut Attorney General's OfficeNews ReleaseTelephone Solicitation Raises Consumers' QuestionsFebruary 10, 1997Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Consumer Protection Commissioner Mark A. Shiffrin said today they have received an unusually high number of consumer inquiries regarding a professional telemarketing campaign currently being conducted to raise money for the Connecticut Fraternal Order of Police.In just over a month ending February 6, 1997, Blumenthal and Shiffrin received 51 calls from consumers. Twenty-one of the calls came in during just four days, from February 3, 1997 through February 6, 1997.The Connecticut Fraternal Order of Police is not affiliated with any muni****l police department, union, police benevolent****ociation or police activities league.The organization, headquartered in New Haven, is using a paid solicitor, Civic Development Group of Hopelawn, New Jersey, to conduct a telephone campaign that is scheduled to continue through March 24, 1997. According to the contract, the Connecticut Fraternal Order of Police will receive a minimum of 15 percent of the money collected in its name. The remaining 85 percent will be kept by Civic Development Group."Consumers should be aware that they are not talking to a police officer when they receive a call from Civic Development Group on behalf of this organization. They also should be aware that if they make a donation, none of that money will go to help their local police departments," Blumenthal said. "I am encouraged by the large number of calls we have received regarding this campaign. It shows that consumers are heeding our warnings to be alert and seek information before they give.""This is a good example of why we urge consumers to check with our Charities Unit before they commit their generous donations to unknown solicitors. Often consumers have never heard of the caller and do not know how much of their charity dollar will actually end up with the intended charity," said Commissioner Shiffrin. The Public Charities Unit is a joint program of the Attorney General's Office and the state Department of Consumer Protection. The Public Charities Unit has received inquiries from consumers in at least 30 communities who had received calls seeking donations.A**** the towns where residents are being solicited are: Ansonia, Bridgeport, Bristol, Canaan, Chester, Danielson, East Hartford, East Haven, Enfield, Es***, Farmington, Gla******ry, Greenwich, Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, New Haven, New ****ord, Niantic, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Rockville, Salem, Sherman, Stamford, Torrington, Uncasville, Vernon, Waterford, Willimantic, Woodbury, and Wolcott.The state filed a lawsuit a***nst Civic Development Group in 1994, alleging that the company violated the law when its employees failed to disclose to****ential donors that they were being paid to solicit contributions for the Uniformed Professional Firefighters of Connecticut. Without admitting liability, Civic Development Group settled the lawsuit in 1995 by paying a $40,000 penalty and agreed and to establish a "do not call" list, on which donors can have their names placed on request.The Connecticut Fraternal Order of Police is registered with the state's Public Charities Unit. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, the organization reported total revenue of $724,515. During the same period it reported spending $26,426 or 4.08 percent on programs (the purposes for which it was formed), $20,069 (or 3.18 percent) on management and general expenses and $600,852 (or 92.74 percent) on fundraising costs.The organization reported that of the $26,426 it spent on programs, it spent $1,725 on donations to other charitable programs; $9,234 on travel and expenses for officers to attend seminars and conventions; $10,087 on DWI education; and $5,380 on a "Fun Day with the Police" community program.Blumenthal and Shiffrin offered the following tips for consumers who receive telemarketing solicitations:    * Make sure you understand which organization wants your money. Police departments do not solicit money over the telephone, but some police unions do.    * Ask for specific information about how your donation will be used.    * Ask where your donation will be used, especially if you prefer your donation to be used locally.    * Ask who you are talking to. Get the name and write it down. If you're called by a police union, don't be fooled into thinking you are talking to a police officer.    * Ask the caller if he or she is being paid to make the call. Connecticut law requires paid solicitors to tell you this, but don't count on them volunteering the information.    * Ask what percentage of your donation the organization will receive.    * Never agree over the phone to donate. Always ask for written information and read the material thoroughly.    * Always donate by check, never with cash.

This phone number is calling to try to SCAM money for a Cancer Charity. The Fundraiser is “Associated Community Service” A professional fundraiser caught up in the US Navy Veterans****ociation 100 million dollar fundraising fraud scandal. Has been sued by many states for using unfair and deceptive trade practices, violations of the do not call list and much more.  Or they are “Corporations for Character” acting as the professional fundraiser for the Fraternal Order Of Police nationwide. They **** 85% and 73% respectively out of your local communities at the same time they tell you, the prospective donor that 100% of your donations go the local charity. It is a****entially criminal misrepresentation.   I have NOT called the number, nor will I.  It directs you to a customer service department that can answer questions using****entially manipulative techniques, help you waste your donation on fundraising fees and high administrative expenses, or anything else related to the ****** Cancer Charity getting a small fraction of your donation, 12% to 27%. The BBB has said this charity gives LESS then 1% of your donation is put to the charitable cause. Some fundraiser's pocket as much as 73% to 99%. Also, there’s information on www.badgefraud.org on the massive numbers of warnings put out by Charities that do not use so called professional fundraisers and Real Police and Sheriff and Fire Departments as well as Veteran Medical and Children’s Charity warnings. But you can contact the folks there with any questions or requests or comments.BadgeFraud (dot) org is doing a lot of really great things for the families of police fire vets and children’s charities by making sure your donations go where YOU intend. The people that post are NOT trying to raise money, they are trying to protect the money of the people who protect us, and that is so****ing very good.

This phone number is calling to try to SCAM money for a Cancer Charity. The Fundraiser is “Associated Community Service” A professional fundraiser caught up in the US Navy Veterans****ociation 100 million dollar fundraising fraud scandal. Has been sued by many states for using unfair and deceptive trade practices, violations of the do not call list and much more.  Or they are “Corporations for Character” acting as the professional fundraiser for the Fraternal Order Of Police nationwide. They **** 85% and 73% respectively out of your local communities at the same time they tell you, the prospective donor that 100% of your donations go the local charity. It is a****entially criminal misrepresentation.  I have NOT called the number, nor will I.  It directs you to a customer service department that can answer questions using****entially manipulative techniques, help you waste your donation on fundraising fees and high administrative expenses, or anything else related to the ****** Cancer Charity getting a small fraction of your donation, 12% to 27%. The BBB has said this charity gives LESS then 1% of your donation is put to the charitable cause. Some fundraiser's pocket as much as 73% to 99%. Also, there’s information on www.badgefraud.org on the massive numbers of warnings put out by Charities that do not use so called professional fundraisers and Real Police and Sheriff and Fire Departments as well as Veteran Medical and Children’s Charity warnings. But you can contact the folks there with any questions or requests or comments.BadgeFraud (dot) org is doing a lot of really great things for the families of police fire vets and children’s charities by making sure your donations go where YOU intend. The people that post are NOT trying to raise money, they are trying to protect the money of the people who protect us, and that is so****ing very good.

Why does a supposedly legitimately organization uses a caller ID "****ord CT" use the organizations name. I also don't think the police department needs a fundraiser, don't we pay enough taxes and don't they make enough money writing tickets. If you really want to do a fund raiser, do it like some fire departments, stand on a corner with your boots and collect. Only a fraction of the  $$ goes to the police, the rest goes to the fundraiser and they are not a non for profit organization, so they should fall under the do not call list.

This phone number is calling to do fund raising for the Connecticut State Fraternal Order of Police. I have called the number.  It directs you to a customer service department that can answer questions, help you donate, or anything else related to the FOP. Also, there’s information on www.ctstatefop.com, you can contact them there with any questions or requests.The FOP is doing a lot of really great things for Connecticut police officers and the people that call are trying to help them raise money so they can do even more good.

I see where this 'outfit' is back and trying to 'solicit' with the same 'financial overhead' before they give any money to where they call about;Time to put a stop to this 'boiler room'operation;

But less than 25% of what is raised actually goes to the charity...

on no call list, why can this call occur

Politicians & Charities exempt from Do Not Call list

frequent calls, early and late.who is this

Any clue where this is from?

Bogus Police charity call