877-213-5486

Received a call from 877-213-548 at 9:51A  on 8-18-11.  Called ID -  Toll Free Call.

877-213-5486 is the Childrens Cancer Society which is a for profit group with only 5 percent of what they collect goes to cancer groups.  Your donation is builed monthly.

This snippy little [***] called from this number asking for me by name.  I told her it was poor manners to call and ask for someone by name, and she should always first identify herself before barging into someone's home like that.  She quickly spoke over me telling me no it wasn't telephone etiquette to identify oneself when calling. I told her I was on the do not call list and she replied that they were a nonprofit organization-- I told her she was  a scam and she told me I was a scam.  Very second grade, repeating whatever I said.  I then asked to speak to their do not call department to be taken off the list.  She hung up on me instead.  I suspect it is the same outfit of con artists who called me a couple days ago identifying themselves as Children's Cancert Treatment "charity" from the other number of 877-208-5257.  They must train them to behave liek complete jerks, and I guess the low iq's come naturally.

Added note:   I dialed the # back & got an answering machine - "Childrens Cancer Recovery Network.

Just got a call from 877-213-5486. I looked the number up here and saw it was bogus, so I let it roll to voice mail. I also received a call from 877-208-5257 on 8/15/11 at 8:30 PM, which appears to be the same group. I never answer a number I don't recognize and they didn't leave a message either time.

This number keeps calling my home at all hours.  There is never anyone on the line and if I call it back, I simply get a recording for the Children's Cancer Recovery Foundation.  They called again today at 9:15 am 8/19/11  -- I want them to stop....

I keep receiving calls from this number.  If I was interested in donating to their charity I would contact them.  I am not interested in donating so stop calling me.

This is a scam tele fundraiser for it would seem multiple charities that are questionable themselves. However, in most states they must start their pitch by saying

"Hello, my name is (full name of fundraiser registered with the SOS or AG) and I am a paid fundraiser with (full name of fundraising company registered with AG or SOS) and I am calling "on behalf" of (full name of charity registered with AG or SOS)

If they do not do this and they claim to be members of the group they are raising money for then they are committing fraud against the donor. It is considered in some States to be "Obtaining Money By False Pretenses" and in others it is considered "Theft By Deception" and still other States considered it to be "Larceny". But no matter what you call it it is stealing from the Donor. In some cases when they get caught they are fined as much as 40 grand per call. I read our States Charitable Solicitation's Act and it looks like very few of these companies are raising money according to the Law's of our State and I will bet that if you read your States Charitable Solicitation Act you will find the same to be true.

When they claim to be a member of the group they are raising money for, as this company is doing, it is damaging all other charities that do not use so called "Professional Fundraiser's" to raise money. They all know this but they continue to steal from "us" the donating public. Fundraiser's like this must be put out of business as they lie to the donor and they do this because some of these so called fundraisers get to keep as much as 99% of the money they collect and they use that money to call us over and over again to ask us for more money that they can use to call us over and over again. If you want to give money to charity then the best way is to hang up on the tele fundraiser committing fraud and search out the charity yourself.

This company seems to be calling for Police Fire and Veteran's groups as well as medical and children's groups. All of which are wasting the bulk of your donation on fundraising and administrative costs like salary's for the charity officials. You can find out more about this scam group at http://www.pfcl.org/

They are the people whose information took out the United States Navy Veterans Association that stole 99.6 million in donations last year. They were also behind the demise of Civic Development Group out of NJ and the FTC's Operation False Charity in 2009 Nationwide based on their book "The Fraud Happen's In The First 8 Word's" which was sent out to all AG's and SOS's. They say they have contacts with the AG's, SOS's ,DHS, FTC, DOJ, FCC and Secret Service across the Country and their tips have been used in some of the largest Charity Fraud investigation's Nationwide as well as other Countries.  You can also find their book called "What The Fundraiser's Say" at a link on their site. They say they are a Church Group and they say this is the Mission of this Church to protect donations going to Police Fire Veteran Medical and Children's Charities. That book is a real eye opener made up of comments by the people calling you. After reading it, I will sure never make a donation over the phone again to any group that use so called "Professional Fundraiser's" that operate outside of the law and use illegal techniques to steal money from little sick kids or cops or firefighters or anyone else who really needs it.

Anyway, the long and short of it is, GIVE DIRECTLY AND CUT OUT MIDDLEMAN COMPANIES THAT CALL YOU!

Oh btw, the do not call list DOES apply to Professional Fundraiser's. Now if the charity actually picked up the phone and called then, yes, they are exempt from the DNC, but that is not what is happening here with this caller. This caller is Corporations for Character out of Murry Utah calling on behalf of the Fraternal Order of Police and the FTC just sued them for 26.4 billion dollars worth of DNC violations. That is 16 million violations at 16 thousand dollars each.

The FOP is a good group for the most part but they need to do their own fundraising instead of contracting a company like this one to raise money. So, if you want to help the cops or the FOP, dont do it over the phone and send your check right to your local lodge. They get every dollar of it that way, instead of some telemarketer taking 85% or more of every dollar.

Here is the FTC press release about this company

For Release: 05/09/2011
FTC Charges Utah Operation with Deceptive and Abusive Telemarketing
Defendants Allegedly Made 16 Million Calls to Numbers on the Do Not Call Registry; Misrepresented How Funds Would Be Used
At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice today filed a complaint that charges three Utah-based firms and their owner with waging deceptive and illegal telemarketing campaigns pitching movies and soliciting for donations, including calls to more than 16 million phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry.

The FTC charged that the companies and their owner, Forrest S. Baker III, committed multiple violations of the FTC Act and the Telemarketing Sales Rule, and deceived customers about where the proceeds from their purchases and their donations would go.

According to the FTC’s complaint, Baker controls a group of Utah-based companies that produce and market films and DVDs and solicit charitable contributions from consumers nationwide, including Feature Films for Families, Inc., Corporations for Character, L.C., and Family Films of Utah.

The complaint states that in 2008 and 2009 the defendants conducted a nationwide calling campaign under the name “Kids First,” in which they offered to send two complimentary DVDs and requested feedback on whether the movies should be included on a list of recommended movies. However, the defendants did not disclose that consumers who agreed to participate would later receive calls pitching DVDs produced by the defendants.

Moreover, the defendants’ telemarketers allegedly told consumers that “all of the proceeds of this fundraiser will help us finish up creating this recommended viewing list to help parents and grandparents, like us, with a list we can trust.” In fact, the organization responsible for the Kids First recommended viewing list, the Coalition for Quality Children’s Media, did not receive all the proceeds. The complaint alleges that the defendants received at least 93 percent of the DVD sales proceeds.

The FTC also alleges that, between 2009 and 2010, the defendants conducted fundraising campaigns for organizations with names related to fraternal orders of police (FOPs) and firefighters. The defendants receive most of the donations raised by these campaigns, and the organizations retain only 15 to 33 percent.

The Commission alleges that, in order to persuade donors to give money, the defendants made multiple false and misleading misrepresentations about the nature or purpose of the organizations for which the defendants requested donations, the way in which charitable contributions will be used, and the percentage or amount of any charitable contribution that will go to an organization. For example, the complaint alleges that the defendants falsely represented to donors that administrative costs are a “very minimal amount” and that contributions were used or would be used for safety-related officer training, bulletproof vests, or financial assistance to victims when, in fact, the organization for which the defendants were soliciting did not fund these activities, or used only an incidental amount of the contributions for such activities.

The FTC’s complaint also alleges that the defendants have repeatedly called numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry in their telemarketing campaigns. In calls made under the name Kids First, the FTC alleges, the defendants made more than five million calls to consumers whose numbers were on the Registry. The complaint further charges that, since June 2007, the defendants have made approximately nine million additional illegal telemarketing calls to phone numbers that are on the Do Not Call Registry to sell Feature Films for Families DVDs.

The FTC alleges that in another calling campaign in 2009, the defendants called consumers to urge them to buy tickets to see “The Velveteen Rabbit,” a film produced by Baker and released in theaters before going to DVD. The FTC complaint alleges that the defendants’ telemarketers made no effort to avoid calling consumers on the Do Not Call Registry. During this two-week campaign, the defendants called more than two-and-a-half-million consumers whose numbers were on the Do Not Call Registry.

In addition, the complaint charges that the defendants violated the Telemarketing Sales Rule by:

calling consumers who have previously asked that the defendants stop calling them;
failing to provide the name of the telemarketer or seller making the call to Caller ID devices and, instead, providing names such as “CUSTOMER SVC,” “FAMILY VALUE CB” or “VELVETEEN”;
failing to orally identify the seller, the purpose of the call, and the nature of the goods or services when making telemarketing calls; and
abandoning calls to consumers by failing to connect consumers to live representatives when they answer the phone. In many cases, such abandoned calls lead to the recipients listening to “dead air” when they answer the call.
The Commission vote referring the complaint to the Department of Justice was 5-0. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District for the Northern District of Florida. It names as defendants Feature Films for Families, Inc.; Corporations for Character, L.C.; Family Films of Utah, Inc.; and Forrest Sandusky Baker III, individually and as an owner and principal of Feature Films for Families, Inc., Corporations for Character, L.C., and Family Films of Utah, Inc.

The complaint, filed by the Department of Justice at the request of the FTC, seeks a court order to permanently bar the defendants from violating the FTC Act and the Telemarketing Sales Rule, as well as civil penalties, and disgorgement of their ill-gotten gains.

NOTE: The Commission approves a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the law has been or is being violated and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. The complaint is not a finding or ruling that the defendant has actually violated the law. The case will be decided by the court.
The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call
1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics. “Like” the FTC on Facebook and “follow” us on Twitter.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Mitchell J. Katz,
Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2161
STAFF CONTACT:
Michael Tankersley,
Bureau of Consumer Protection
202-326-2991
(FTC File No. 1023023; Civ. No. 11-197)
(Feature Films.final.wpd)

And here is the case link
http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/1023023/110506featurefilmscmpt.pdf

"Tele-Marketing Company ",

 Someone .....Please, cancel this computer calling company.

I am on the DO NOT CALL LIST, It is about useless.......also..

This anoying scam calls me 3-4 times a day each week and does not leave a message, so today i answered and ask what she wanted, she imediately ask for my wife by name, i again ask what she wanted , she asked are you Mr >>>>, i said again why are you asking and what do you want, she starts her crap about she is with Children's Cancer Recovery Foundation, and would like to get our family to donate. When i said no we are not intrested in giving to scam companys and i would also like to let her know i was recording her call because i know they are a fraud company, she quickly said ok sir thank you, have a nice day. What a crock of crap these people are.

Calling several times per week, never leave a message... What is the purpose of being on the do not call list if these places still call all the time... Why are companies and organizations still allowed to call and harass people anyways... Thanks to technology we have the ability to find a product that we want and can purchase it from the comfort of our living room. Thanks to smartphone technology we can find and buy products while driving if we really wanted. And thanks to Cell phones in general as texting allows us to donate to a cause we care about with a simple text message.

I can't start randomly calling people and asking them for money, why should companies and organizations be able to randomly call us?

Tele-Marketing.......... Just called, hung up when answering machine answered.

I am on the DO NOT CALL list, which has turned out to be useless.  Several calls
received a week.

They call often, usually at nap time.  I don't answer. I am registered with Do Not Call.

they just called about 15 or so mins ago. Asked for my sister in law by name. She doesn't live here nor has she ever had our number. Told them that, and then got a spiel about Childrens cancer society. said they are a "new organization". I said we already donate to st jude so we arent interested. she said I can make a one time gift donation and I said no thank you my husband wouldnt be too keen. she said "ok have a blessed day" and hung up.
it strikes me as weird that they call here asking for her. after coming here i know for sure its a scam (like id give my personal info on the phone anyway!). im going to call my sis in law and warn her in case they do get her number right!

This number just called me as well, so I called the actual Children's Cancer Recovery Foundation.  Let's just say they were a little taken aback to hear that someone was claiming to be them, and informed me that this number is not associated with them.  The lady took their number, don't know what she can do with that, but I felt bad for them.  They are a legitimate foundation, but not from the number that is calling all of us.  These people have also called me four times this week and just now hung up on me.

A woman caller attempted to call several times this week and did not leave any messages but knows our last name.   I hope thise calls STOP!!!

I got a call from 877-213-5486 at 8:30PM. Within 5 seconds I knew the call was from a scam charity group. She asked for me by my name and I went into my "Peggy" voice and asked if she have problem? Oh you want Peggy! I transfer you, Hello? Peggy here you have problem? The caller decided to give up and I heard her say "what an idiot" as she hung up.

IF 877-213-5486 KEEPS CALLING YOU, FILE COMPLAINT WITH THE FTC. Read above posts by Jeff Brogna (of 8-22-11 and 8-31-11). This broad keeps calling my home. I've ignored the first 50 or so calls (which they never leave message) but my patience is wearing thin. The last three calls I did answer. First call I just answered "who is this?" -- they just hung up on me. Second call I answered Like this "take me off your call list or I'm contacting the FTC" -- again they hung up on me. Third call from them (that I answered) I answered this way "who is this?" the broad said an unintelligible, three letter acronym, to which I asked "what is that?" -- to which this broad totally ignored, and proceeded to ask for my wife, by her name !! (how rude). This phone call continued for a very short time, needless to say, she managed to get a little more info (unwittingly) out of me (no donation) But as you can see, in the second phone call, --that I answered-- I told them I will contact the FTC, and they totally ignored that. MY suggestion to anyone reading this, #1 if this phone number is annoying you in any way, contact the FTC.#2 Avoid talking to this FRAUDULENT SCAMER. If you do talk to them, don't answer any of their questions. YOU take control of the call. YOU ask the questions. (because they want to be vague, and they will be vague). Here is the phone # for the FTC:  877-FTC-HELP   OR  877-382-4357- and read the posts above, by Jeff Brogna.

Just got a call from them tonight.  Rude, rude lady!  She was very pushy to say the least.  She kept yelling at me because I didn't want to donate to the "poor little children with cancer"  I finally hung up on her.  I'll donate in person but never, NEVER through a scam group like this.  I hate how they are exploiting these children and their families just to line their personal pockets!  Not to mention giving reputable organizations a very bad name.

I wasn't able to get her name but the company had an A and a C in it.  Like the person above ^ said the caller spoke very quickly to hide the name of the company.

We've been getting calls from this number since the end of August. They call 4-5 times or more a day, when my husband answers the phone they ask for me by name. When he asks what this in regards to they say they only want to speak to me or they hang up.   The called 4 times in the space of  2 hours yesterday. When I called the number back I get a recording saying they are the Children's Cancer Recovery Fund.  I just reported this number to the FTC for harassment. I'm sick of these calls.