Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced a settlement over claims against a charity known as Firefighters Support Services (FFS) of Wyandotte, Michigan. The group used deceptive phone calls to fundraise claiming that funds went to help firefighters and victims of fire but more than 90% went elsewhere. As part of the settlement FFS will dissolve their operations within 60 days. Continue reading “Michigan: Deceptive Charity to Cease Operations after Misleading Donors”
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Arrests Tampa Man on Charges of Grand Theft, Telemarketing Violations
Arrest Also Made on Illegal Charity Activity, One Still Wanted
Officers with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services arrested Dean Sherwood of Tampa on Wednesday and charged him with 40 counts, including grand theft, unlicensed activity and organized scheme to defraud consumers.
“Thanks to the thorough investigation and swift action taken by our officers, there’s one less scammer stealing thousands of dollars from Floridians,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.
Pennsylvania: Bucks County woman who allegedly lied about having terminal cancer reaches settlement with Attorney General’s office
Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane’s office today announced a civil settlement with a Bucks County woman who was the intended beneficiary of more than $36,000 in charitable giving after she falsely claimed she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of terminal cancer. Continue reading “Pennsylvania: Bucks County woman who allegedly lied about having terminal cancer reaches settlement with Attorney General’s office”
FTC Settlement Bans Telemarketer from Claiming Sales Help Disabled Persons
They Allegedly Tricked Consumers Into Paying for Overpriced Household Goods
Adli Dasuqi and his companies, American Handicapped Inc. and American Handicapped and Disadvantaged Workers Inc., have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they tricked consumers into buying household products on the false pretext that the proceeds would go to help disabled people. The defendants will be banned from making any similar claims in the future.
Continue reading “FTC Settlement Bans Telemarketer from Claiming Sales Help Disabled Persons”
Maryland Officials Shut Down Charity Which Claimed To Help Veterans But Allegedly Misled Donors
Attorney General Brian E. Frosh and Secretary of State John C. Wobensmith announced today that the Office of the Secretary of State has shut down a purported charity for veterans which allegedly falsified marketing materials and other documents and has not accounted for donations.
The Secretary of State issued a cease-and-desist order against the Southern Maryland Veterans Association, along with principal Dan Brashear, and alleged former associate Norman Randolph McDonald. Continue reading “Maryland Officials Shut Down Charity Which Claimed To Help Veterans But Allegedly Misled Donors”