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The Sheriffs of
Georgia offer a warning to citizens who might be targeted by
telemarketers soliciting donations. Even though it is legal for
organizations and associations to solicit by telephone, the Sheriffs of
Georgia do not endorse fund raising projects or advertising
sales conducted 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. Individuals
who receive solicitations by telephone use the following precautions:
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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.
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Request a list of the
Board of Directors of the organization that the solicitor 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.
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Any reputable
organization should be happy to furnish you with a copy of their annual
report. Also, ask for a copy of the IRS letter stating that
the organization is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization.
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If the caller says
they are representing a certain law enforcement group or organization,
have them furnish you with the law enforcement agency that is
sponsoring the fund raising the endorsement.
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Do not be fooled by
promotional materials that look "official" or use names similar to well
known companies or government agencies.
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To avoid calls from
telephone solicitors, you may register with the Georgia Public Service
Commission and be placed on the Georgia No Call List.
Telephone solicitors are prohibited from placing a sales call to any
number that appears on this list. By paying a $5.00
registration fee, you may place a residential telephone number on the
No Call List for a period of two years. To register
for the No Call List, please contact the Georgia Public
Service Commission at 877-426-6225.
There are state
agencies you can call to verify or complain about telephone
solicitors, Mr. Cody said. "All charitable organizations must register
with the Secretary of State's Office before they can raise funds in
Georgia,"
he stated. To verify if an organization is registered, contact the
Charitable Organizations Division of the Secretary of State by phone at
(404)
656-4910. Also, if you need to file a complaint about
possible frauds, contact the Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs at
1-800-869-1123.
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