Maryland event 11 Sep 2020.
These people called a few months prior and promoted themselves as police officers support association. They apparently mailed me what they call is a “kit”. I might have accidentally set it aside and today upon taking another random call. They hit me up for the $30 on my credit card. I typically do not allow these types of charities and upon reading the above reference to the R P*Law Enforcement F I did compare it to my text message from my financial institution as R P* LawEnfFund. Did they answer my question about if they were a third party for a union? yes. I thought they were honest in that respect. I didn’t have time to further vet them simultaneous. I perceived they were collecting money for a police union. It does appear to be a fraudulent representation. I will call my bank to see if a scam is evident.
Its a scam for the most part. Just a wealth transfer by the materialistic in humanity.
already.
The pushy caller didn’t want to take no for an answer, so I had to get a little more firm with him. It turns out, I am not the only person who has had to do this. As a matter of fact, many people have taken to the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, Youtube, Charity Navigator, and local news outlets to report their disapproval and concerns of the NPTA.
It’s difficult to obtain much information about the NPTA online, but what is easy to discover is the skeeziness and illegitimacy of the donation requests.
Numerous sources list NPTA as a scam, and a recent report from the Center for Public Integrity (which is a self-described “nonprofit newsroom that investigates betrayals of public trust”) reveals just how much of a scam it really is.
The association is listed as affiliated with the International Union of Police Associations (IUPA). The IUPA has several red flags of its own, according to Public Integrity, as well as other sources. The Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund is part of the IUPA as well, and allegedly provides financial support to families of fallen officers while they wait for their full benefits to kick in.
While the union flaunts itself as “the only union for law enforcement officers,” it is questionable in its reports of membership, which have been shown to be false on more than one occasion. The IUPA and the relief fund also uses almost 80% of its donated funds to pay telemarketers to obtain even more funds. You read that correctly.
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It was found that only 2.7% of donations to the relief fund actually went to the families of fallen officers.
In about 7 years (through March 2018), the union and relief fund spent a total of approximately $102.3 million, of which $82.3 million went towards fundraising.
So what happened to the other approximately 33% of that money? It went straight to the effected families, right?
No.
Granted, 11 families received a total of $72,000, and some of it (about $25,000, or $2,500 per person) went towards law enforcement student tuition and scholarships. The rest is a split between employee’s salary and benefits, buildings maintenance for its 10,000 sq. ft location in Sarasota, Florida, and “other expenses.”
IUPA executives are sure to make a handsome income, not least of which is the president of the IUPA, Sam Cabral, who rakes in just under $200,000 per year.
At the time of this writing, the relief fund’s website was no longer functioning.
Also affiliated with the union is a political action committee, Law Enforcement for a Safer America. This PAC raised $4.5 million from donors, and spent $4 million of that on fundraising.
This leaves very little to be spent on political advocacy, which is, after all, the actual purpose of a PAC to begin with.
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What’s worse is the telemarketing companies IUPA used. Three of them have been negative subjects in similar investigations from Public Integrity. One, Outreach Calling, is run by Mark Gelvan, who has been banned in New York from conducting fundraisers due to his solicitors impersonating police officers.
Two others, Courtesy Call and Donor Relations, are run by Richard Zeitlin out of Las Vegas, who was being investigated by the Federal Trade Commission as well as a Florida Grand Jury for “engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices.”
Despite how shady and sneaky the union and it affiliates are with obtaining more and more money, they don’t do a very good job of hiding it. The vice president of the union, Michael Crivello, was also the founding treasurer of Law Enforcement for a Safer America. The websites even share layouts, color schemes, photographs, and fine print.
The union holds an annual golf tournament in Venice, Florida, and come September 2020 will host its 22nd international convention in Key West Florida, at the Waldorf Astoria’s Casa Marina, where attendees will enjoy 1,100 feet of private beach area.
Other names to beware of in association with the IUPA are the Police Officers Support Association and the National Emergency Responders Coalition, but now that Public Integrity has published their report, it would be wise to do extensive research into the organizations that you choose to donate to where claims of supporting law enforcement lie.
Scammer’s phone 8002403750
Scammer’s website [email protected]
Country United States
Type of a scam Bank/Credit Card Company Imposter Scam
Initial means of contact Postal mail
My Discover Card was charged 40.00 on 6/10/20 … I have no idea this is for or why I was charged. If I can ever get thru to them , I really want to know who authorized this ? My identity has been stolen and I need help.. thanks D Herbst 703-930-0214 text me anytime
Despite my warnings, my husband gave his credit card number and a $50 donation to this group on June 3, 2020. I will contest the charge with my credit card company to see if I can get our money back. What other recourse do we have with this scam company?
I recently discovered two transactions on my 87-year-old aunt’s credit card for this group. One was on June 1 for $15 and one was on June 3 for $25. My aunt has dementia and I’m assuming someone called her and she gave them her crerdit card info, however, when I check the card info, it says the transactions were made online, but my aunt does not have a computer. Who are these people? When I try to call them, I get a robo call sounding voice. According to the credit card, the address is 1549 Ringling Blvd, in Florida – I’m assuming this is Sarasota with a zip code of 34236. The phone number on the credit charge is 800-240-3750. Any ideas how to catch these people? Thanks.
I donated $75 thinking I was doing something good to aid in all of the riots lately. My credit card shows R P *LawEnfFund. The phone number I have for them is: 414-930-1308, a Milwaukee, WI number. I gave them my credit card number, they verified it & tried to add another $25, I told them no. After hanging up I knew I had made a mistake. I’m glad to see this is identity theft, it might get handled a little faster & shut them down.
My mother was called by this organization and gave a “donation” over the phone using her credit card. She is 90 and has Alzheimer’s and so does not remember the fact that we REPEATEDLY talk about her NOT giving out her credit card number over the phone. I had been waiting for something like this to happen – I had been hesitant to take her credit card away as she really values what little independence she does still have. So, this now means that she can no longer have her credit card and we are one step further down the road to her total dependence upon others – very difficult for a woman who has always been very self-sufficient and independent.
The charge:
RP*LawEnfFund 800-2403750 FL
$120.00
Charitable & Social Service Organization
I called the “800” number listed and you get a woman’s voice with a recorded message saying there is no one there to assist you at this time. I called within normal business hours and they never identified themselves on the message. The only option you are given is to leave your name and phone number to be added to their “Do Not Call” list. I was not about to give them that information!
I then called our credit card company and put a block on her account and have the charge under dispute. I doubt she will get the funds refunded as she did give this donation out over the phone. Please beware and protect your elderly family!
Victim Location 08090
Total money lost $12
Type of a scam Identity Theft
I help my 91 year old MIL w/her bills. I noticed an unauthorized debit card transaction taken from her checking account from: R P*LAW ENFORCEMENT F. When looking at the transaction the info for this vendor is as follows:
R P*Law
Enforcement F
800-2403750 FL
Merchant Name: R P*LAW ENFORCEMENT F
Transaction category: Giving
I chatted with the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) and they said this is actually “identity theft”. Please don’t let these criminals get away with this. Dispute the charge with your bank & report/register a complaint with the FTC. Protect your identity.
I did find this blurb regarding them:
I have dealt with them before. The first contact is done by a bot. after answering yes to giving them money it will transfer you to a real person. this company is not a charity but rather a UNION. they are real but also really shady. If you google them you will see that most of the money they raise goes to parties and payroll. not much is ever given back because they are once again NOT A CHARITY. but rather a Union. they do not tell you this unless you ask. It is a legal scam. the only thing that they might be able to be served papers for would be violation of the DNC list since they are not classified as a charity. One last thing, they will call you from different phone#’s even after you ask them not to call.