Police Protection Fund phone call
May 15, 2008
Elf got a call earlier today from a very rude solicitor of donations. When you walk the phone number back online you get this interesting page about them: Phone number report from 800Notes.
We usually try to look up the hang-ups and dead-air calls to see what we’re getting, but no report has ever been as entertaining as this one. A couple of highlight comments:
I figured them out a long time ago when I lived in Florida. A friend of mine clued me in on the scam so I don’t bother to talk to them. The one time I did answer the phone the guy tried to intimidate me by telling me my local police keep a list of those who refuse to donate and won’t help you in an emergency. What a crock.
and:
he gave me a line that only 2.5% went to administrative expenses.
When I checked them out on the web ( url)
he was telling me the truth about the 2.5% Administrative costs but failed to mention the 69.1% Fundraising Expenses.
and:
I’ve been getting these calls off and on for years. Orginally, they were calling from a phone number in Georgia, and claiming to be the “Virginia State Police”..lol Today, they called from this number in the 804 area code (Virginia). Again claiming to be Virginia State Police. On caller ID it had the number and listed it as “Graphics Lab”. I answered and laughed at the man. Asked him who he was trying to kid, as they had been exposed a long time ago.
Unfortunately, Elf informs me there’s no law against running a very bad charity.
Posted in Archived Unsorted
content rss
May 15th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
I remember getting a call like that one year. The solicitor told me very sweetly, “And we’ll send you a window sticker for your rear car window, and I should tell you that if you’re ever pulled over, the police really appreciate seeing that sticker.” (wink wink nudge nudge)
June 4th, 2008 at 9:57 am
I have been trying for 3 years to have my # removed from this “charity”. It is impossible. I have called a police chief (he said they regret getting this particular company to represent them), and I have written. I have called their number about 10 times and requested to be removed. No go. I do feel that this is harassment, at this point.
As did Glen, I made the mistake of sending $ a few years back. I received the sticker. Yeah, I”m sure it would make a BIG difference if I was stopped. Sure…
Now, I just answer and then immediately click off.
S.A.