Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced a settlement with Florida nonprofit Breast Cancer Outreach Foundation, Inc. The settlement resolves the Attorney General’s claims that, in 2015, the group deceptively raised $1.4 million nationwide, including at least $36,372 in Michigan. The group’s solicitations told donors that funds raised would be used for breast cancer research grants. In reality, all the money raised, except for one $8,235 grant, went to professional fundraisers and other expenses—not breast cancer research. Continue reading “Florida Charity to Pay Over $100k to Breast Cancer Research, and is Banned from Soliciting in Michigan for Ten Years Due to Deceptive Fundraising”
New York Attorney General Announces Suit Against Brooklyn Telemarketing Firm Under Investigation For Possible Deceptive Fundraising Practices And Harassment
Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced a suit to compel Brooklyn professional fundraiser, Menacola Marketing, d/b/a Neighborhood Outreach (“Menacola”), and the husband and wife team that ran it — president and owner, Katherine DeGregorio, and Joseph DeGregorio, vice president – to comply with an ongoing fraud investigation. From 2010 to 2015 Menacola reported raising donations of $5.04 million from New York donors from the approximately twenty charities it represented. During this same period Menacola retained, on average, 85% of the donations, or at least $4.4 million, for its fundraising services. Continue reading “New York Attorney General Announces Suit Against Brooklyn Telemarketing Firm Under Investigation For Possible Deceptive Fundraising Practices And Harassment”
Michigan Attorney General Files Cease and Desist Against Dearborn-based Fundraiser for Illegally Operating Clothing Donation Bins
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced a Notice of Intended Action and Cease and Desist Order against professional fundraiser Golden Recyclers, Inc., alleging over 2,000 violations of the Charitable Organizations and Solicitations Act. Continue reading “Michigan Attorney General Files Cease and Desist Against Dearborn-based Fundraiser for Illegally Operating Clothing Donation Bins”
Virginia: Consumer Protection Settlement Reached with Donorworx, Inc.
Professional fundraiser to pay penalty for alleged violations of charitable solicitations law
Attorney General Mark R. Herring’s reorganized Consumer Protection Section has reached a settlement with Donorworx, Inc., a professional fundraiser, to resolve alleged violations of the Virginia Solicitation of Contributions Law (VSOC Law) which governs the solicitation of contributions by, or on behalf of, charitable organizations and includes certain registration, reporting, and disclosure requirements. Continue reading “Virginia: Consumer Protection Settlement Reached with Donorworx, Inc.”
Fee Scheme Using Online Obituaries Halted By Attorney General
Today the State of Vermont settled all claims with two companies and an individual who were bilking consumers who donated to charities through online obituaries. Vermont will receive over $15,000 in penalties for violations of Vermont’s laws on charitable solicitations and consumer protection. Continue reading “Fee Scheme Using Online Obituaries Halted By Attorney General”