Operation Donate with Honor, a federal-state education and enforcement initiative to combat fraudulent and deceptive charitable solicitations claiming to help Veterans and military was launched today by the Federal Trade Commission.

In addition to taking legal action in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam and Puerto Rico, the initiative includes an education campaign to help consumers recognize charitable solicitation fraud and identify legitimate charities.

“Not only do fraudulent charities steal money from patriotic Americans, they also discourage contributors from donating to real Veterans’ charities,” said Peter O’Rourke, VA’s acting secretary. “The FTC’s Operation Donate With Honor campaign will help educate citizens on how to identify organizations that misrepresent themselves as legitimate Veterans’ charities, and those who, by contrast, truly help our nation’s heroes. I commend the FTC and its state partners for taking strong action on this important issue.”

Today’s announcement by the FTC includes more than 90 actions against charities and fundraisers that lied about helping Veterans or military service members or otherwise broke the law.

To learn more about how to donate wisely and make your contributions count, visit the FTC’s charity webpage.

For an in-depth look, see the FTC’s full news release on Operation Donate with Honor.

 

 

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28 Comments

  1. Fredrick Boyd Reese July 30, 2018 at 22:16

    I have worked with the American Legion for 20 Years. They have programs that help all veterans and their children and family. Not a drinking club!
    I continue to wonder why we “NEED” all these other Jonnie come lately groups that sure seek our money to help veterans.
    All the American Legion has asked of me is my time. Yes I have provided money but as I saw a need not a fake request.
    The biggest problem I’ve seen is Veterans willing to replace our Brothers and Sisters that are dying. Most meeting have many in wheel chairs and oxygen bottles! These are the few left of the “Greatest Generation” and I mean very few!

  2. Angela July 29, 2018 at 20:01

    Hello,
    I work for the VA West Los Angeles Homeless Outreach. I am constantly contacted by Veterans who have been scamed, by organazationa stating they provide housing, etc. There was a comment on channel 7 last week identifying names of organizations. How can I obtain a list of fraudulent organizations.

    Thank you

  3. GREGORY B RUSH July 29, 2018 at 03:58

    Will Turmp also be investigated? The New York State Attorney Genral already has submitted a lawsuit for his fraudulent “Donald J. Trump Special Event for Veterans,” in Iowa during his campaign; are you going to follow up on this too?

    DOWNLOADABLE .pdf DOC. OF FEDERAL LAWSUIT:
    https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/court_stamped_petition.pdf

    THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, by
    BARBARA D. UNDERWOOD, Attorney General of the
    State of New York, Index No. Petitioner,
    -against
    DONALD J. TRUMP, DONALD J. TRUMP JR., PETITION
    IVANKA TRUMP, ERIC F. TRUMP, and THE DONALD
    J. TRUMP FOUNDATION,

    “PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
    1. For more than a decade, the Donald J. Trump Foundation has operated in
    persistent violation of state and federal law governing New York State charities. This pattern of illegal conduct by the Foundation and its board members includes improper and extensive political activity, repeated and willful self-dealing transactions, and failure to follow basic fiduciary obligations or to implement even elementary corporate formalities required by law.”

  4. emil cipolla July 28, 2018 at 18:18

    I could not access the site to check on Operation Stand Down Rhode Island

  5. Monica Golden July 28, 2018 at 13:36

    There are far too many Veterans Donation programs out there.
    Why can’t the Government take so much out of every Citizen and especially Non-citizen Income tax, since that’s where we’re already paying for it…..
    Make sure we get a form to say: x $ has been donated by __________, and is a Non-profit Organization, and is Tax Deductible!
    I want to know where my Money is going……

  6. KENT A. KELLEY II July 28, 2018 at 01:37

    The Veterans Administration has forced Veterans who had the nerve to apply for disability benefits to be victimized by it’s own SCAMS in the past and I believe they are still at it, Unfortunately the Veterans Administration conducts their SCAMS with impunity. I applaud any effort to protect the public and our Veterans from SCAMS but, will the Federal Trade Commission actually set their sights on the Veterans Administration? After all, they have been cheating Veterans for years.

  7. alexander seden July 27, 2018 at 23:26

    stay away from Gateway mortgage in Naperville, il the rates they charge for VA mortgages are totallyout of line,,,they assume you arre stupid and they want to make money from your lack of konowledge. only one week ago approx 7/20 i asked what they charge for a 30yr fix mortgage. answer 5% when others i check with were only charging 4.25% that makes
    a high difference over the span of the mortgage. i brought it up to them, they refused
    to answer just take it or leave it.btw, my fico was 777 so no excuses! blacklist these
    dishonorable self indulgent civilians

  8. Kelly Robertson July 27, 2018 at 22:21

    Transparency of tax records (general) for each year AND their FEIN # Listed ON THEIR WEBSITE is what I always look for before believing the organization is credible. I’d love to see a list of the scammers and hope they get everything they deserve. Sad.

  9. John Nevin July 27, 2018 at 21:41

    To Mr. Hamby, You may contact your VHA health care facility Privacy Officer if you have any questions regarding the privacy of your health information or vetting questions which you have brought to the forefront. The VHA Privacy Office; by mail at VHA Privacy Office, Office of Information (19F2), 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420 or via telephone at 1-877-461-5038. This information is dated April, 14, 2009. Addresses and phone numbers may have changed since the April 14th information was last published so make sure you check for any changes. In addition, if you possess a VA card for your wallet take note that your Social Security card number may be currently affixed to your card. I have been notified to go to the nearest VA Hospital Enrollment and Eligibility Office and have my card changed to permanently eliminate my Social Security Number from my VA card similar to my new Medicare Health Insurance card. You will be issued a new VA card without the Social Security number on it. Also, take your DDForm 214 form with you when you go to the office as you may be asked to show it.

    Best regards,
    John Nevin, Millbrae, CA.

  10. Ray Breeding July 27, 2018 at 21:01

    This is a legitimate FUNDRAISER…..Click on this link for info… Its to help handicapped and homeless veterans in Alabama,
    https://www.facebook.com/donate/229344921009841/?fundraiser_source=external_url

  11. Thomas Earl Hope July 27, 2018 at 17:24

    Not one (1) of the supposed Veterans charities has contacted me , a disabled veteran, to preserve my job as a Rating Service Representative; Rating veterans disability claims: or the insure my continued employment as a disabled veteran with the Department of Veterans Affairs. It is about time that the FCC investigate and shut down the thieves that deprive the veterans of the assistance that are needed. With my disability, I could be serving veterans today with the proper support; I have been sidlined.

  12. Daniel Hance July 27, 2018 at 17:08

    Hello,

    My name is Dan Hance (USAR CPT/Veteran), and I’m looking to contact Gary Hicks to invite him to see our comprehensive transition Entity, The Catalyst, in action. We are the very first fully accredited mini-MBA Program, exclusively for transitioning Military Vets & Spouses. Bottom line, we’d be honored to have him engage with our Candidates, if he’s interested, and see how we’re working as a community to successfully roll this out. Please contact me anytime. Thank you.

  13. John Scholl July 27, 2018 at 17:08

    How do we find out the 90 charities that under investigation. Can you send a list to me?

    John Scholl
    Commander
    American Legion
    Post 341
    Michigan

  14. Glenn Lego July 27, 2018 at 12:30

    Is there a list of phony charities?

  15. Dale H Layton July 27, 2018 at 12:04

    profit because war and peace, money that counts, people have an conscience, no clout , it way of life cowards to God put in HELL.

  16. Bill Sheppard July 27, 2018 at 11:59

    write a check or give volunteer time to those vetted groups who help veterans

  17. Bill Sheppard July 27, 2018 at 11:57

    Sadly these groups thrive on the good natured well meaning public as well as individuals who claim to be US Military Veterans or worse disabled or combat awarded veterans… the punishment does not fit these crimes,,,,, Bravo Zulu to those groups who fight the good fight for the veterans

  18. Edward A Parsley JR July 27, 2018 at 11:40

    Its not worth it if you don’t name the frauds

  19. Edward A Parsley JR July 27, 2018 at 11:38

    Its not worth a dam if you don’t publish the frauds!

  20. gary owen faas July 27, 2018 at 11:20

    It appears my First Amendment Right to Free speech without Government denial is happening again. Two Government employees I mentioned who are in fact guilty of scamming the Public with two Faker Vet charities can not me posted. Why is that?

  21. William Karp July 27, 2018 at 11:19

    Now if someone would post a complete list of all fraudulent charities, it would be nice

  22. James Evans July 27, 2018 at 11:04

    First open your financial record to be vetted by an independent CPA firm to verify your collected funds {USD] are used 90% for Forgotten Warriors and not used for overhead. That simple. Remender wounded warriors? The funds they collected went for lavasih over head, resort entertainment, $$$ rooms< $$$ parties and travel. Your not part of that group are you?

  23. Brian Engman July 27, 2018 at 10:53

    It would be nice to have a list of the known ones that are a scam.

  24. Clyde Lindsey July 27, 2018 at 10:52

    Why not the worst of them all- Wounded Warrior Project?r

  25. Angelikah Aline Letzkus July 27, 2018 at 10:31

    What if you were a Disaboed Veteran who had been cheated by a non profit charity claiming to help disabled veterans?

  26. gary owen faas July 27, 2018 at 10:00

    Zinke (R) and Rorbach (R) both run Fake charities to scam the Public, yet both are on the Federal payroll.

  27. DARRYL A HAMBY July 21, 2018 at 09:55

    How do groups, like the one I volunteer for, Saving Forgotten Warriors get vetted and cleared by the FTC? We think it is important to be verified in this right away. https://www.facebook.com/Savingforgottenwarriors.org/?ref=br_rs

    • Wayne E Miller July 27, 2018 at 20:22

      Here’s a start:

      4. Verify Legitimacy
      Let’s face it: there are sham nonprofits out there. If you see a big green check mark next
      to “Registered with the IRS” on a nonprofit’s GuideStar Nonprofit Profile, you know it’s
      legitimate. No check mark means that further investigation is required:
      • If the charity is not on GuideStar, ask to see its IRS letter of determination
      • If the organization is faith based, ask to see its official listing in a directory for its
      denomination

      From what I have gathered, you should be registered with the I.R.S. and also the Better Business Bureau. Not sure about the red tape you might have to go thru but this is what I’ve found throughout all the search I’ve done.

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