617-245-9698

This phone number is calling to do fund raising for the Massachusetts Fraternal Order of Police. I have called the number.  It directs you to a customer service department that can answer questions, help you donate, or anything else related to the FOP. Also, there’s information on www.massfop.com. Plus, you can contact them there with any questions or requests.
The FOP is doing a lot of really great things for Massachusetts police officers and the people that call are trying to help them raise money so they can do even more good.

Please don't call

I really can't stand the constan t calls and the hang ups. What exactly does the Do Not Call list cover? How did these people get our phone numbers? Unfortunatly, people will fall for this SCAM!!!

I told them to stop calling but they still do

yeah Martha Coakley is doing a great job as Attorney General....what part of the Do Not Call List do these people understand?

The "Do Not Call" law allows charities to solicit donations.  Unfortunately the funds these people collect don't completely go to the charities they say they are calling for.

Yes, this is a scam. One of those bogus charities that puts most of the money in its directors' pockets. That last poster, snow, works for these scam artists.

The police get a tiny fraction of what's collected, and, in any case, like most public employees now, they make far more than the average worker, according to several recent studies.

I predicted that this call came from them, because every time they call, they use a different phone number (to trick the callee and to get around call blocking), but all of their numbers begin with 617-245.

No legitimate operation would be constantly changing their phone number.

I've been receiving calls with Boston MA in Caller ID and, as usual, we don't pick up. Callers who are on the up & up identify themselves on Caller ID and leave messages.  "People who have nothing to hide hide nothing."  Serial calling is just plain harrassment.  There should be regulations on how many times a business (including solicitor) can call anyone.  However, it's unlikely that they'd be enforced.  Laws must have teeth.

The FOP is not really the police.  It is an agency the police use to fund raise.  The agency gets the majority of the money raised unfortunately.  The money does go to a good cause, I just wish I could donate $ and that ALL my $ would go to the cause and NOT to a call center!!!
The do not call list does NOT refrain the FOP and political parties from calling you.

Fundraising company calling on behalf of the Fraternal Order of Police. Called 5 times in the past month or so, each time told not to call again. Best bet is to not answer and never donate money to any organization that would hire a company to harass people.

Per the FTC website re: the do not call list. "Charities are not covered by the requirements of the national registry. However, if a third-party telemarketer is calling on behalf of a charity, a consumer may ask not to receive any more calls from, or on behalf of, that specific charity. If a third-party telemarketer calls again on behalf of that charity, the telemarketer may be subject to a fine of up to $16,000 ."

If they call, document the date/time, the company name, who they are calling on behalf of, the name of the person making the call, and that you clearly told them not to call on behalf of this charity again. They will likely try to get you to agree that it will take them some time to update their database, don't agree to it. When they call again, document the same info and report them to the FTC and get them hit with up to a 16,000 fine each time they called after you told them not to. I suspect this will stop the calls.

This is a 3rd party caller calling on behalf of the charity. You are giving out misinformation.

No legitimate organization would raise money like this, they should be ashamed. These calls are not excluded by the do not call list as they are 3rd parties calling on behalf of the "charity". Per the FTC website:
"Charities are not covered by the requirements of the national registry. However, if a third-party telemarketer is calling on behalf of a charity, a consumer may ask not to receive any more calls from, or on behalf of, that specific charity. If a third-party telemarketer calls again on behalf of that charity, the telemarketer may be subject to a fine of up to $16,000 ."
Document the time/date, name of the company, who they are soliciting for (FOP), name of the caller, the company address, the caller ID info, and that you clearly told them to no longer call on behalf of the specific charity. When they call again, you can contact the FCC and hopefully get them hit with a $16,000 fine for each offense.

THE INFO YOU ARE REQUESTING IS AVAILABLE ON THE DONOTCALL.GOV WEBSITE!  

this is what YOU SHOULD HAVE READ when you registered your phones.  UNDER THE MORE INFORMATION BOX.  

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt107.shtm
Q&A: The National Do Not Call Registry
Tell Me More About the National Do Not Call Registry
Why would I register my phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry?
The National Do Not Call Registry gives you an opportunity to limit the telemarketing calls you receive. Once you register your phone number, telemarketers covered by the National Do Not Call Registry have up to 31 days from the date you register to stop calling you.

Who manages the National Do Not Call Registry?
The National Do Not Call Registry is managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency. It is enforced by the FTC, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and state law enforcement officials.

Why was the National Do Not Call Registry created?
The registry was created to offer consumers a choice regarding telemarketing calls. The FTC’s decision to create the National Do Not Call Registry was the culmination of a comprehensive, three-year review of the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR), as well as the Commission’s extensive experience enforcing the TSR over seven years. The FTC held numerous workshops, meetings, and briefings to solicit feedback from interested parties and considered over 64,000 public comments, most of which favored creating the registry. You can review the entire record of the Rule review at
www.ftc.gov/bcp/rulemaking/tsr/tsrrulemaking/index.htm.



How Does Registration Work?
How soon after I register will I notice a reduction in calls?
Telemarketers covered by the National Do Not Call Registry have up to 31 days from the date you register to stop calling you.

When I register my phone number, how long until it shows up on the National Do Not Call Registry?
After you register, your phone number will show up on the registry by the next day. Telemarketers have up to 31 days to get your phone number and remove it from their call lists.

What if I change my mind? Can I take my number off the National Do Not Call Registry?
You can delete your phone number only by calling toll-free 1-888-382-1222 from the telephone number you want to delete. After you contact the registry to delete it, it will be removed from the National Do Not Call Registry by the next day. But telemarketers have up to 31 days to access information about your deletion and add your number back to their call lists, if they choose to.

If I registered by phone, will I receive a confirmation?
No, but you can verify that your number is on the registry online at www.donotcall.gov or by calling the registry’s toll-free number (1-888-382-1222) and following the prompts for verifying that your number is on the registry.

I received a phone call from someone offering to put my name on the National Do Not Call Registry. Should I let them?
No. The FTC does not allow private companies or other such third parties to register consumers for the National Do Not Call Registry. Websites or phone solicitations that claim they can or will register a consumer’s name or phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry — especially those that charge a fee — are almost certainly a scam. Consumers may register directly, or through some state governments, but never through private companies. For consumers, the National Do Not Call Registry is a free service of the federal government.



What About the Privacy of My Information?
If I choose to register my phone number, how will my information be used and disclosed?
We collect your phone number and store it in the National Do Not Call Registry so that telemarketers and sellers covered by the FTC’s rules can remove your phone number from their call lists. Telemarketers are required to search the registry every 31 days and delete from their call lists phone numbers that are in the registry. Phone numbers in the registry also may be shared with law enforcement to assure compliance with federal and state law.

If you contact us via the Internet, we also collect your email address to confirm your registration request. We will store your email address in a secure manner, separate from your telephone number. We will not share your email address with telemarketers.

For more information about the privacy of your information, please see our privacy policy at www.ftc.gov/ftc/privacy.shtm



What Phone Numbers Can I Register?
Can I register my cell phone on the National Do Not Call Registry?
Yes, you may place your personal cell phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. The registry has accepted cell phone numbers since it opened for registrations in June 2003. There is no deadline to register a home or cell phone number on the Registry.

You may have received an email telling you that your cell phone is about to be assaulted by telemarketing calls as a result of a new cell phone number database; however, that is not the case. FCC regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers. Automated dialers are standard in the industry, so most telemarketers don’t call consumers on their cell phones without their consent.

Can I register all my family and friends?
You should register only your own telephone numbers.

I have more than three personal telephone numbers. How can I register all of those numbers?
You may register up to three telephone numbers at one time on the National Do Not Call Registry website. You will receive a separate confirmation email for each number you wish to register online. You must open each email and click on the link in each one to complete the registration process. If you have more than three personal telephone numbers, you will have to go through the registration process more than once to register all of your numbers. There is a limit on the number of phone numbers you can register in this manner.

You can register only one phone number each time you call the National Do Not Call Registry, and you must call from the phone number you wish to register.

What happens if I register more than one number at a time online?
You will get an email for each number you register online. You need to open each email and click on the link in each email within 72 hours to register those numbers.

Can I register my business phone number or a fax number?
The National Do Not Call Registry is only for personal phone numbers. Business-to-business calls and faxes are not covered by the National Do Not Call Registry.



Will My Registration Expire?
How long does my phone number stay registered?
Telephone numbers on the registry will only be removed when they are disconnected and reassigned, or when the consumer chooses to remove a number from the registry.


What If I Move or My Phone Is Disconnected?
I moved and got a new phone number. Do I need to register the new number?
Yes.

Do I need to take my old phone number off the list when I get a new number?
No. You can if you would like to, but the system will automatically remove most numbers that are disconnected and reassigned.

What happens if my phone number is disconnected and then reconnected?
If your number is disconnected and then reconnected, you may need to re-register. In addition, there are actions that you or your telephone company might take that could cause your registered phone number to become unregistered — even if your service has not been interrupted (such as changing calling plans or other services, or changing the billing name on the account.) To verify that your number is in the Registry, go to www.donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236). Each time you re-register, telemarketers will have 31 days to take your number off their call lists.


What If My Area Code “Splits”?
If my area code changes, do I need to re-register?
If the phone companies change the three-digit area code for your home or mobile phone number, you do not have to re-register it with the National Do Not Call Registry. The number with the new area code will be registered for you during the 90-day period when both the old and new area codes work. This is known as the Permissive Dialing Period.

Do I need to delete registration of my number with the old area code?
No. You do not need to delete the registration of your phone number with the old area code. An automated process will remove it after 90-day Permissive Dialing Period.


Registration and My Email Address
Why do you need my email address?
When you use the registry’s website to put a phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry, we collect your email address to confirm your request. We will send you an email and you will need to click on the link in the email within 72 hours to finalize your registration. We also collect your email address when you request to verify your registration online so that we can email you a response to your verification request. We will store your email address in a secure manner, separate from your telephone number. We will not share your email address with telemarketers.

Can I register online if I do not have an active email address?
No. The online registration process requires an active email address. If you register online, we will send you an email message with a link in it. You need to click on the link in the email within 72 hours to finalize your registration. If you do not have an email address, you can register by phone
(1-888-382-1222).

Can I reply to the email I got when I was registering?
No. The email address is a one-way mail service. It cannot accept incoming emails. You must click on the link within the email within 72 hours to finalize your registration.

What if my email address changes after I register? Will I still be able to verify my registration on the national registry?
Yes, you will be able to use your new email address to verify your phone number online.


I’m Having Problems With Registration
I called to register my phone number, but the message said my phone number could not be verified. Why not?
When you call to register a phone number, you are asked to enter the number you are calling from. The system tries to match the number you enter to “Automatic Number Identification” or ANI, which is like Caller ID for the telephone network. A small percentage of U.S. phones do not have ANI. If your phone doesn’t, the system will have trouble locating your phone number. You can register your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry website at www.donotcall.gov.

I called to register my phone number, but the message said that the phone number I was calling from did not match the phone number I entered. What happened?
To register, you must call from the phone you want to register. For example, you cannot register your home phone number by calling from work.

Also, people in certain communities — such as senior living centers or university residences — have phone numbers that are hidden by a PBX (private branch exchange) telephone system and cannot be matched by the National Do Not Call system. If you live in such a community, you can register your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry website at www.donotcall.gov.

I received an email from Register@donotcall.gov, but I don’t get a “Registration Complete” message when I try to click on the link. What should I do?
You may not be able to click on the link in your email from Register@donotcall.gov, or it may take you to a page that says “Registration Incomplete.” You can complete your registration by using the “cut” and “paste” functions to insert the link in the email into the “address” line on your Web browser. You must cut and paste the entire link. It is very long — possibly more than one line of text. You cannot re-type the link.


Will All Telemarketing Calls Stop If I Register?
If I register my number on the National Do Not Call Registry, will it stop all telemarketing calls?
No. Placing your number on the National Do Not Call Registry will stop most telemarketing calls, but not all. Because of limitations in the jurisdiction of the FTC and FCC, calls from or on behalf of political organizations, charities, and telephone surveyors would still be permitted, as would calls from companies with which you have an existing business relationship, or those to whom you’ve provided express agreement in writing to receive their calls. However, if you ask a company with which you have an existing business relationship to place your number on its own do-not-call list, it must honor your request.  You should keep a record of the date you make the request.

Are calls from political organizations or calls soliciting for charities covered?
Political solicitations are not covered by the TSR at all, since they are not included in its definition of “telemarketing.” Charities are not covered by the requirements of the national registry. However, if a third-party telemarketer is calling on behalf of a charity, a consumer may ask not to receive any more calls from, or on behalf of, that specific charity. If a third-party telemarketer calls again on behalf of that charity, the telemarketer may be subject to a fine of up to $16,000 .

What about telephone surveys?
If the call is really for the sole purpose of conducting a survey, it is not covered. Only telemarketing calls are covered — that is, calls that solicit sales of goods or services. Callers purporting to take a survey, but also offering to sell goods or services, must comply with the National Do Not Call Registry.

My number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. After I bought something from a company, a telemarketer representing that organization called me. Is this a violation?
No. By purchasing something from the company, you established a business relationship with the company. As a result, even if you put your number on the National Do Not Call Registry, that company may call you for up to 18 months after your last purchase or delivery from it, or your last payment to it, unless you ask the company not to call again. In that case, the company must honor your request not to call. If they subsequently call you again, they may be subject to a fine of up to $16,000 .

An established business relationship with a company also will be created if you make an inquiry to the company, or submit an application to it. This kind of established business relationship exists for three months after the inquiry or application. During this time, the company can call you.

If you make a specific request to that company not to call you, however, then the company may not call you, even if you have an established business relationship with that company. You should keep a record of the date you make the request.

Are telemarketing calls from overseas covered?
Yes. Any telemarketers calling U.S. consumers are covered, regardless of where they are calling from. If a company within the U.S. solicits sales through an overseas professional telemarketer, that U.S. company may be liable for any violations by the telemarketer. The FTC can initiate enforcement actions against such companies.


Other Ways To Limit Telemarketing Calls
I’m happy to have the choice to limit telemarketing contacts, but there are some telemarketing calls I don’t mind receiving. Is there a way to allow only certain companies to call?
Yes. If you give a company your written permission to call you, they may do so even if you have placed your number on the National Do Not Call Registry.

If I don’t want to put my number on the National Do Not Call Registry, can I still stop telemarketers from calling?
Yes. Even if you do not register with the National Do Not Call Registry, you can still prohibit individual telemarketers from calling by asking them to put you on their company’s do not call list.

What is the relationship between the state do not call lists and the National Do Not Call Registry in terms of coverage?
The National Do Not Call Registry requirements are at least as stringent as most state laws. Most unwanted telemarketing calls will be covered by the National Do Not Call Registry. States also can continue to enforce their laws, which will not be limited by the FTC. However, the FCC’s requirements impact some state laws. For information on the FCC’s rule, visit www.fcc.gov.


Filing a Do Not Call Complaint
When can I file a do not call complaint?
If your number has been on the National Do Not Call Registry for at least 31 days and you receive a call from a telemarketer that you believe is covered by the National Do Not Call Registry, you can file a complaint at the registry’s website at www.donotcall.gov or by calling the registry’s toll-free number at 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236). You may also file a complaint if you received a call that used a recorded message instead of a live person (whether or not your number was on the Registry).  

How do I file a do not call complaint? What do I need to file a complaint?
You can file your complaint on the registry’s website, www.donotcall.gov, using the File a Complaint page. You must provide the date that the company called you and the number that was called and respond to a question asking if the call was a prerecorded message. You may provide your name and address, but this information is not required for you to submit a complaint. You also may call the registry’s toll-free number 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236).

What happens to my complaint?
Do not call complaints will be entered into the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel system, a secure online database available to more than 1,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies. While the FTC does not resolve individual consumer problems, your complaint will help us investigate the company and could lead to law enforcement action.

Where can I get more information?
If you have questions or complaints regarding the Do Not Call Registry, please contact the FTC by email at dncconsumerinquiry2@ftc.gov, or by mail at:

National Do Not Call Registry
Attn: DNC Program Manager
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20580

The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Watch a new video, How to File a Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn more. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

September 2009

ARTICLES AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET ABOUT CHARITY SCAMS - CLAIMING TO COLLECT FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS

Feds, States Target Charity Scams
Bogus telemarketers claim to help police, firefighters, veterans
Read more: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/05/ftc_charity.html#ixzz0NVdJ10Qx

Massachusetts Puts Charity Telemarketers On Hold
Consumers not told fundraisers were pros

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/06 ... ixzz0LA5gEkHH&D


California Sues Charities For Stealing Donations To Public Servants
Multiple lawsuits agains telemarketers, donors for deceptive practices and fraud.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/scam_alerts/scam_alerts.htm#ixzz0LA5vSxWI&D


States Warn Against Dubious Charities
Attorneys General warn citizens about professional solicitors


December 9, 2009

Consumers have to walk something of a tightrope this time of year. Holidays are always an expensive time, yet many want to support charities and worthwhile causes. But the last thing you want to do is have your contribution line the pockets of the solicitor.
In Oregon, Attorney General John Kroger unveiled a list of Oregon's 20 Worst Charities and offered tips to consumers on how to donate wisely.
"In the middle of a recession, it is more important than ever that generous Oregonians make charitable contributions to organizations that help veterans and others who are in need," Kroger said. "It is critical, however, that people donate wisely. Although many charities do great work, some are little more than scams with good-sounding names but that do little to actually help the people they claim to support."
State law requires charities to file periodic financial reports with the Oregon Department of Justice disclosing how much money the organization raised and how the funds were spent. The Department's Charitable Activities Section has identified 20 organizations (see attached) that spent more than 75 percent of the donations they collected on administrative costs and professional fundraising.
While guidelines issued by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) suggest that charitable organizations should spend at least 65 percent of their funds on charitable programs, every charity on the Department of Justice's list devoted less than 25 percent of their expenditures on charitable program activities.
One organization near the top of the list, Shiloh International Ministries, solicits donations to provide medical necessities and other support to needy children, veterans, and homeless persons. According to the most recent financial filings, the California-based nonprofit spent an average of $1,023,215 per year, 96.35 percent of which went to management and fundraising.
Kentucky concerns
Unscrupulous charity solicitations are not just confined to one area of the country. With double-digit unemployment rates in Kentucky, for example, more Kentucky families are in need of a helping hand this holiday season.
Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway says people who give to a charity should give wisely. Unfortunately, he says, there are unscrupulous or even fraudulent charities that prey on the generosity of Kentuckians.
"Every dollar donated to a reputable charity can make a difference in the life of someone who may be struggling to put food on the table or clothe a child," Conway said. "Irresponsible or fraudulent charities not only take advantage of the kindness of hard-working Kentuckians, they deprive those who need our help. Before you decide whether a charity deserves your donation, gather as much information as possible to make sure the charity is not a scam and that your donation reaches someone in need."
Both Kroger and Conway offer these tips for wise holiday giving:
• Donate to charities you know and trust.
• Be cautious of sound-alike charities and solicitors unable to answer questions.
• Always ask what percentage of your dollar goes to the cause.
• Don't be pressured into making a donation.
• Ask if the charity or solicitor is registered with the Office of the Attorney General.


Read more: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/12 ... l#ixzz0ZI59oXXw

New Jersey-based Telephone Fundraisers Banned from Soliciting Donations
Consumers tricked into believing all donations would help local police, firefighters, and vets


By James Limbach
ConsumerAffairs.com
April 2, 2010
The operators of a New Jersey-based telemarketing scheme will pay a record $18.8 million and leave the charitable donation business to settle charges that they violated a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) order.
Civic Development Group, LLC; CDG Management LLC; and owners Scott Pasch and David Keezer are accused of misleading consumers to believe they were donating directly to legitimate charities serving police, firefighters, and veterans. In fact, only a small slice of the donations actually went to these charities.
The civil penalty is the largest ever in an FTC consumer protection case and the agency says it should deter others from violating Commission orders and from deceiving consumers and harming legitimate charities.
"This scheme packed a one-two punch: it deceived the people who donated, and it siphoned much-needed funds from police, firefighters, and veterans groups," said David Vladeck, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "The court's final settlement order packs a one-two punch of its own: a record-breaking financial penalty for violating an FTC order and a lifetime ban on soliciting charitable donations."
"Firms and individuals should not mislead the public when soliciting donations for charitable organizations," said Tony West, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the Department of Justice. "The Justice Department will take action when a telemarketer violates an FTC order and takes unfair advantage of the generosity of donors by providing only a small fraction of donations for the charitable purposes for which they were intended."
Under the settlements, the defendants are permanently banned from telemarketing and soliciting charitable donations, and prohibited from making false claims about anything they sell.
Defendants Pasch and Keezer are required to turn over numerous assets to a court-appointed liquidator. Pasch will surrender a $2 million home; paintings by Picasso and Van Gogh valued collectively at $1.4 million; a guitar collection valued at $800,000; $270,000 in proceeds from a recently sold wine collection; jewelry valued at $117,000; three Mercedes, a Bentley, and various other assets. Keezer will turn over a $2 million home, a Range Rover, a Cadillac Escalade, and a Bentley, among other assets.
According to the complaint, Civic Development Group's telemarketers deceived consumers by telling them that they worked directly for the charities they called about, and that "100 percent" of the consumers' donations would go to those charities.
Group has shady history
The FTC first sued Civic Development Group in 1998, charging that telemarketers working for the company's corporate predecessor misled consumers by falsely claiming that their donations would be used locally to buy bullet-proof vests and provide death benefits for deceased officers' surviving family members.
In 2007, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a second complaint referred by the FTC, which alleged that the defendants had violated the prior FTC order. The complaint charged that the defendants tried to circumvent state and federal telemarketing regulations by mischaracterizing themselves as "Professional Management Consultants" who were operating independently from Civic Development Group.
In fact, they continued hiring, firing, managing, and paying the telemarketers. The telemarketers, in turn, continued to falsely tell consumers they worked directly for the charities, which received "100 percent" of the donations collected. In fact, the charities received only 10 to 15 percent of the donations, and the balance went to Civic Development Group, the complaint stated.
And, just over a year ago, Civic Development was among 17 telemarketers sued by the state of California.
In addition to the other settlement provisions, the defendants must take reasonable steps to ensure that their employees comply with the settlement, and comply with standard FTC record-keeping and reporting requirements.
Helpful hints
To keep from getting scammed by "charity" solicitors, here are some tips to remember before making a donation:
• Ask how much of the donation will actually go to the charity (as opposed to the solicitor).
• Always get an address, phone number and contact name.
• Beware of sound-alike names.
• Ask questions, read and listen carefully to all of the information that is presented to you.
• If you donate, do not give cash.
• Be skeptical of excessive pressure for on-the-spot donations.
• Do not give credit card numbers or personal information over the phone.
• Call your state attorney general's Office to check on a charity's status.
State and federal governments have been working together to put an end to such charity telemarketing scammers.



Read more: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2010/04 ... l#ixzz0jwZVVPtO

you make sure it goes to the charity and not the callcenter - by contacting you LOCAL police dept and asking them for contact info to the Fraternal Order of Police.   they will have the LOCAL contact numbers

NEVER DONATE TO A CALL CENTER - they keep most of the money they receive as payment for making the calls.

Always donate DIRECTLY TO THE CHARITY ITSELF - that way you know WHERE your money is going.
Also TELL THE CHARITY TO STOP USING 3rd Party Telemarketers.

ITS NOT MIS-INFORMATION AT ALL - IF YOU WOULD JUST READ WHAT IS ON THE DONOTCALLGOV WEBSITE

Are calls from political organizations or calls soliciting for charities covered?
Political solicitations are not covered by the TSR at all, since they are not included in its definition of “telemarketing.” Charities are not covered by the requirements of the national registry. However, if a third-party telemarketer is calling on behalf of a charity, a consumer may ask not to receive any more calls from, or on behalf of, that specific charity. If a third-party telemarketer calls again on behalf of that charity, the telemarketer may be subject to a fine of up to $16,000 .

Bill -
Its a $16000 fine to the telemarketer for  NOT PUTTING YOU ON THEIR DONOTCALL LIST. -BUT YOU - YES YOU HAVE TO REPORT THEM!

Are calls from political organizations or calls soliciting for charities covered?
Political solicitations are not covered by the TSR at all, since they are not included in its definition of “telemarketing.” Charities are not covered by the requirements of the national registry. However, if a third-party telemarketer is calling on behalf of a charity, a consumer may ask not to receive any more calls from, or on behalf of, that specific charity. If a third-party telemarketer calls again on behalf of that charity, the telemarketer may be subject to a fine of up to $16,000 .

I'm being harassed by them. I've told them plenty of times I can't even afford to survive on my own let alone donate to them. They KEEP CALLING! I emailed them via their website on 4/05/2010 and got a message back saying my name and number would go on their do not call list. As of this week I started getting the calls again. Oh wow a whole two weeks without a call from them. Even though they are considered a charity, I still reported them to the DO NOT CALL list and sent them ANOTHER email. Its bad enough my inbox gets junk mail, now I need to deal with junk calls begging for money. Does this mean I can start my own donation fund and call random numbers in the phone book begging for money??

Oh, added to my statement above....I've tried the whole not answering thing for WELL over two months. That just makes them call 2-3 times DAILY. They never leave a message either.