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| SHERIFF WARNS RESIDENTS ABOUT TELEPHONE SOLICITATION FRAUD |
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DeKalb County Sheriff Thomas Brown and the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association have received numerous inquiries and complaints concerning the solicitation of funds by telephone. The Georgia Sheriffs’ Association, Inc. (GSA) and Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes, Inc. (GSYH) never raise funds through the use of telephone solicitations. If anyone phones a resident claiming they are affiliated with one of these organizations, it is a fraud. GSA and GSYH only use the Unites States mail to raise money for the organizations.
Even though it is legal for businesses and associations to solicit by telephone, the sheriffs of Georgia do not endorse fund raising projects or advertising sales by telephone and do not find it an acceptable practice for any organization representing a law enforcement group or association.
“Fraudulent telephone and advertising schemes rip off hundreds of millions of dollars nationwide from unsuspecting businesses and individuals,” Sheriff Brown said.
Sheriff Brown advises that residents should use the following precautions if they receive telephone solitations:
• Ask questions. Honest businesses don’t mind questions.
• Ask the solicitor what percentage of funds raised actually goes to the charity and what goes to fund raising.
• Request a list of the board of directors of the organization that the caller is representing.
• Do not buy or pledge anything by phone. Ask for the offer or donation request to be mailed to you in writing before you send money. Be very cautious of anyone using “runners” to pick up contributions to avoid using the United States Mail.
• Any reputable organization should be happy to provide a copy of their annual report. Also, ask for a copy of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) letter stating that the organization is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization.
• If the caller claims to represent a certain law enforcement group or organization, ask the caller to identify the agency that is sponsoring the fund raising project, and request an address and phone number to verify the endorsement.
• Should you receive solicitations other than by telephone, do not be fooled by “professional” looking promotional materials or those that use names similar to well-known companies or government agencies.
Residents can call the Office of the Secretary of State to verify or complain about telephone solicitors, Sheriff Brown said, as all charitable organizations must register with the Secretary of State before they can raise funds in Georgia.
To verify if an organization is registered, contact the Charitable Organizations Division of the Secretary of State at (404) 656-4910. In addition, individuals who need to file a complaint about possible fraud should contact the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-869-1123.
Sheriff Brown said that he has received complaints about telephone solicitors claiming to be affiliated with sheriffs, deputies or other law enforcement agencies. Sheriff Brown endorses and is a member of the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association and the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes. These two organizations do not solicit funds by phone.
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