Latest News

Posted on

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”

Posted on

AARP Foundation 2016 Colorado Survey on Charitable Giving

In their efforts to support the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office and the State Attorney General’s office to protect donors and stop charity fraud, the AARP Foundation conducted a research study in March 2016 among the adult general population in Colorado ages 18 and older. This survey explored charitable giving behavior, knowledge of charity fraud and prevention, concerns about charities, and where to report potential charity fraud.

Full report available here.

Posted on

Federal Trade Commission: Complying with the Telemarketing Sales Rule

Charities and For-Profit Telemarketers Calling on Their Behalf

Although tax exempt non-profit charities that conduct their own telemarketing are not covered by the TSR, the USA PATRIOT Act, passed in 2001, brought charitable solicitations by for-profit telemarketers within the scope of the TSR. As a result, most of the TSR’s provisions now are applicable to “telefunders” — telemarketers who solicit charitable contributions on behalf of non-profit charities. Continue reading “Federal Trade Commission: Complying with the Telemarketing Sales Rule”

Posted on

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”

Posted on

Pennsylvania: $10.8 million penalty imposed on Ohio men accused of deceptively collecting charitable donations

Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane’s office today announced a recent Commonwealth Court ruling imposed a civil penalty of $10.8 million on two individuals who will be barred from soliciting charitable donations in Pennsylvania until the penalty is paid in full. The two men were previously sued by the Office of Attorney General following allegations they deceptively collected charitable donations for fundraisers organized by firefighters unions in the western part of the state. Continue reading “Pennsylvania: $10.8 million penalty imposed on Ohio men accused of deceptively collecting charitable donations”