I Get Multiple Calls From A Number I Dont Recognize Is That You
During any given American Breast Cancer Association campaign, we will only try to reach you once per day. We also comply with FCC regulations which state that calls can only be made between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. So, if you are receiving more than one call per day, or receiving calls very early or very late, those calls are not from us.
If, however, you believe for any reason we are in fact responsible for multiple calls, or calls outside the mandated window, call us at 855-622-6237. We will take your information and investigate immediately.
How To Handle Robocalls From Fake Breast Cancer Charities
The best course of action is not to answer the phone, but with spoofing, this may not be possible. Its essential to follow this advice if you realize that you are on a suspicious robocall regarding breast cancer:
Worst Charities In America: How To Keep From Getting Scammed
In the wake of tragedies large and small, they pop up like mushrooms after a rain. With tales of woe and heartbreaking images of children or helpless animals, they beg for assistance. They are the tragi-charities. One hit wonders seeking to cash in on the tragedy of the day from floods and fires to missing children and more.
A financial advisor could help you put a charitable plan together to benefit the causes you care most about.
The pop-up charity business is usually local, occasionally regional and rarely national. Mostly they are the products of individual scammers who smell an opportunity to cash in using the name of a victim who may or may not even be real. They count on local press coverage and a quick website. These charities usually rake in a few thousand dollars and disappear.
The Tampa Bay Times and The Center for Investigative Reporting put a list together in 2013 of the 50 worst charities in America. These organizations raised almost $1 billion for corporate fundraisers. Below you will find a roundup of that list, which was based on federal tax filings over 10 years.
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Dont Talk To The Caller
In case you do answer a robocall, hang up as soon as you realize that you are conversing with a machine. Some robocalls are made just to confirm that the number is active and that there is a real person on the other end.
Robocallers can sell valid phone numbers for a lot of money to other fraudsters, so if you manage to stay silent, the caller may not be able to verify that you are human. This can potentially take you off the calling list.
If you do say something, make sure its not the word yes because it can be recorded and used to authorize deals and transactions you know nothing about.
Breast Cancer Survivors Foundation
As part of New York Attorney General‘s “Operation Bottomfeeder” Breast Cancer Survivors Foundation, Inc., was shutdown in June 2017. AG Eric Schneiderman explained that “too often these shell charities exploit popular causes to enrich professional fundraisers. Im committed to using the full power of my office to stop those who take advantage of peoples generosity to make a quick buck. In a June 16, 2017 press release, he “announced a settlement with the Breast Cancer Survivors Foundation, Inc., , and its president and founder Dr. Yulius Poplyansky. For years, BCSF and its fundraisers painted the picture of an organization that was providing medical services to breast cancer patients and those at risk of breast cancer. Instead, as the Attorney Generals investigation found, BCSF was a shell charity created and run by its primary outside fundraiser, Frank Delvmine, in order to line the pockets of Frank Delvmine, his companies, and his business associates who pocketed 92 cents of every dollar donated to BCSF. As part of the settlement, BCSF will shut down its operations nationwide and pay nearly $350,000, which will be directed to legitimate breast cancer organizations.”
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Common Human Errors Limiting Mammography Interpretation
Radiographic image interpretation involves evaluation and organisation of image information to make a diagnostic decision. These processes can be challenging, particularly with mammography, due to the heterogeneity of the breast parenchyma, anatomical noise arising from dense tissue masking , and the subtlety of some breast cancer types . In other situations, the characterization of detected lesions can be difficult and depends on the presenting features of the lesion and the knowledge of the image reader as discussed earlier . These factors may either cause lesions to be concealed or conspicuous and fixated cancer lesions to be ignored . The interpretation process involves search, perception and decision-making . Faults in any of these processes results in an interpretative error.
2.1 Search errors
Search errors ensue from inadequate scanning of the image, resulting in non-fixation on the perturbations produced by cancer . Search errors may also arise from premature termination of search due to identification of stimuli elicited by another disease condition, which may be irrelevant and unconnected to the disease of concern, a situation referred to as satisfaction of search . Search errors have been estimated to account for 42% of error in DM , and vary with readers experience, workload and fatigue .
2.2 Perceptual errors
2.3 Decision-making errors
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But the California attorney generalsued the charities, Dierks and LeConte in 2009, alleging, among other things, that donors were told their contributions would benefit their local police departments when they did not, and that potential donors were led to believe they were being solicited by current or retired police officers calling from inside their state, when that was not the case.
The complaint also alleged that Dierks and LeConte had filed inaccurate registration and IRS forms that made it appear they spent more money than they did on programming expenses to help police officers.
The case eventually reached a settlement in which Dierks and LeConte did not admit any wrongdoing. But they did agree to terms including ceas all current and future solicitation in California and paying $60,000 to the state.
Dierks received $8,000 for research consulting from the two PACs he formed Americans for Police and Trooper Safety and Cops and Kids Together in the first three months of 2018. A further $12,500 went to Phillip LeConte Photography for internet consulting, according to FEC records.
National Assistance Committee has paid $370,000 to businesses at Charleston Boulevard for services related to IT, compliance consulting and data.
In February, the FTC asked the U.S. district court in Nevada to force Donor Relations LLC and Zeitlin to cooperate with its civil investigation, after the parties failed to comply with some deadlines, according to court records.
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Tips For Charitable Giving
- A financial advisor could help you create a charitable plan. SmartAssets free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- Trust your instinct and always do your research before committing to charitable giving. If a solicitation sounds too smooth or vague, be suspicious. Think of charitable giving in the same terms as international diplomacy, trust but verify.
Telemarketer At Center Of Public Integrity Investigation Banned From Fundraising
Zeitlin has been fundraising for more than a dozen charities and political action committees for decades. In 2009, the California attorney general filed a lawsuit against one of his telemarketing companies, Courtesy Call, and one of its charity clients, alleging they made false, deceptive, and misleading statements to donors. Courtesy Call denied the allegations in a response to the lawsuit, but agreed to settle for $17,000 without admitting wrongdoing.
The Federal Trade Commission and attorneys general in various states shut down at least five of the charity clients that contracted with Courtesy Call for allegedly misleading donors. Zeitlin was not a party in any of those lawsuits, nor were he or his companies accused of any wrongdoing.
Joel Hansen, Zeitlins attorney, previously told Public Integrity that Zeitlin and his companies are certainly not responsible for the alleged actions of a very small number of previous charity clients. Nor is it Zeitlins job to police or otherwise investigate the practices of his clients, he said.
The FTC was investigating whether two of Zeitlins previous companies, Donor Relations and Courtesy Call, were engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices, according to a court document filed by the commission in February 2018.
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Reserve Police Officers Association Outreach
Reserve Police Officers Association Outreach. Operation False Charity, which “includes local and national enforcement actions and outreach initiatives” to police “those who claim to be raising money for cops, firefighters and veterans but arent being honest…calling them at lawless “badge charities.” Washington “state officials joined the Federal Trade Commission, state enforcement agencies and AARP Washington in announcing a nationwide crackdown on fraudulent charitable solicitors claiming to help police, firefighters and veterans.” “Community Support, Inc., solicits funds from consumers in nearly every state on behalf of more than 35 charities. The states accused the company of suggesting more money would go to the charity or be spent locally, that its callers were law enforcement officers or veterans and that individuals had made pledges. The company was also blamed for making harassing calls. According to records at the Washington Secretary of States Office, Community Support returned 12 percent of its total contributions to charity clients in 2008. Community Support did not admit any wrongdoing but agreed to pay $200,000 to the states to cover the costs of the investigation and lawsuit Washingtons share is $8,000. The settlement requires penalties if the company fails to comply with the terms. Washingtons version of the settlement and complaint will be filed in King County Superior Court.”
Fraudulent Fundraiser Uses Illegal Robocalls To Harass Consumers
- Dont trust your caller ID. Dishonest fundraisers can make calls look like theyre from your local area code to get you to answer.
- Hang up if you get a robocall with a pre-recorded message from a charity you dont know. Its illegal for a charity to call you with pre-recorded messages, unless youve donated to them before. In that case, the caller must tell you that you can opt out of future calls and give you a way to do that.
- Dont be rushed. A legitimate charity wont pressure you and will take your donation at any time.
- Ask questions. Ask the fundraiser for the charitys exact name, web address, and mailing address, so you can confirm it later. And ask exactly how much of your donated dollars will be spent on the charitable cause.
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The Phone Calls: Another Friend With Breast Cancer
As a cancer survivor and advocate, I have gotten the calls that we survivors hate: calls from someone we dont know who says that a mutual friend told them to call, and friends saying they have been received a diagnosis. I am always ready when the phone rings.
For the past 25 years I have lived in the shadow of breast cancer. Since then, I have been both a willing and unwilling participant in the cancer story as it has unfolded in this country. It wasnt something I wanted to do it was just timing. During those years there have been times when I celebrated progress and bemoaned yet another finding that didnt pan out to be the great answer we wanted.
Through it all, I have gotten the calls that we survivors hate. Its either someone we dont know who says that a mutual friend told them to call or as in the last two calls, friends saying they have been received a diagnosis. One friend called to invite me to her hat party in preparation for losing her hair to preoperative chemo.
Its hard to take these calls, particularly when something happens thats either really good or really bad, but the person doesnt have enough experience yet to know what it means. For example, when hat-party girl began chemotherapy, she was excited that the tumor was noticeably smaller. But she was disappointed that it was still there.
Yes, she answered, what does that mean?
What do you know already? I asked her.
OK, I said.
Why? she snorted. Its my body.
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Scam Pacs Rake In Millions Under Guise Of Charity
Its like when they asked Willie Sutton, Why do you rob banks? He said, Because thats where the money is,& quot FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub said of groups that raise money, but don& #39 t spent it on political activities.
05/04/2018 05:00 AM EDT
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Link Copied
A web of new political action committees raised nearly $6 million in recent months under the guise of supporting police, veterans and cancer research. But nearly all the money has gone to their own vendors and staff, as opposed to those causes hallmarks of so-called scam PACs.
Several of the people and entities involved in the new PACs have been investigated for alleged fraud and other illegal practices in the charity sphere. But after coming under scrutiny, they have shifted recently into the much less regulated realm of politics, a POLITICO investigation has found.
The new PACs have feel-good names like Cops and Kids Together and Americans for the Cure of Breast Cancer. They have succeeded in raising millions of dollars from small donors in a matter of months and spent most of it just as quickly, without supporting political candidates or making a mark on a policy issue. Their activities highlight an unpleasant truth: Political groups often receive less oversight and get more leeway than charities, even though they have to disclose more details about their donations and spending. Indeed, the Federal Election Commission has said it is all but powerless to crack down on scam PACs.
Neither happened.
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User Complaints For 997
The call was claiming to raise funds to support legislation and legislators to “help support” those with various types of cancer. When looking up their name on Federal Campaign sights I could not find them. If, I don’t know who they support I do not donate. When asking for that information, they hung up. Last week’s “group” was raising funds for “disabled veterans” and all their Federal donations went to one D candidate in Florida.
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This company is sending mailings to my mother stating she agreed to a $35.00 donation – my mother is recently deceased. I have been trying to contact this company to remove her information from their mailing list to no avail – which led to my searching the legitimacy of this company.
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205-997-3885 Potential Spam – was caller id & left no message, so I called them back…Breast Cancer Relief Committee – something about sending to congress. Political Spam/Scam?.
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They asked me to donate and immediately asked for my credit card number. Huge red flag! I told them they could send me an envelope and asked for a $50, then $35, and finally a $15 amount. So upon receipt, I could look them up. And I found this. They called from 334-649-7162. I blocked them and will continue to block them.
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Telemarketing: Why Do We Do It
American Breast Cancer Support Association uses the telephone to raise funds for cancer research, cancer prevention events/programs, educational events, and to recruit volunteers to further American Breast Cancer Associations mission. We often get asked about our use of telemarketing. In the interest of transparency, here is a quick Q & A that you might find useful.
In the interest of transparency, here is a quick Q & A that you might find useful.
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How To Report Breast Cancer Robocall Scams
Many legitimate institutions and businesses all over the world suffer huge losses because of the robocall pandemics. Respectable and well-intended organizations cannot get through to people because robocalls make us wary of answering calls from unknown or suspicious numbers.
The Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission joined forces with phone carriers and law-enforcers to fight against robocalls. The FCC guide to robocalls states that everyone should report robocalls because it will contribute to putting an end to this harassment.
If you receive a robocall, report it to:
You should also register your phone number on the National Do Not Call List. It should prevent telemarketers from calling you. Fraudulent organizations dont care about the List, but at least youll know that a robocall that got through is scam-related. You can find further reading on the Do Not Call List in these useful articles:
Government Says Four Cancer Charities Are Shams
Government says donors gave $187 million over four years to support luxury lifestyles, private fundraisers
Donated funds used for luxury cruises, trips to Las Vegas, shopping
FTC and 50 state regulators say charities committed nationwide fraud
In a rare joint action with attorneys general for each of the 50 states, the Federal Trade Commission says four cancer charities run by extended members of the same family conned donors out of $187 million from 2008 through 2012 and spent almost nothing to help actual cancer patients.
Each of the charities charged were the subject of extensive reporting by CNN in 2013. And in each instance, none of the four charities would comment. We were ordered out of the building at the Cancer Fund of America in Knoxville, Tennessee, and were the object of an obscene gesture by the CEO of The Breast Cancer Society in Mesa, Arizona.
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