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Cancer charities used public's $187 million for cruises, dating sites: FTC
The Washington Examiner ^ | 5-19-15 | Robert King

Posted on 05/19/2015 6:41:53 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic

The federal government has charged four sham cancer charities for bilking more than $187 million from consumers for cars, trips, luxury cruises and even dating site memberships.

All 50 states and the District of Columbia joined federal officials to charge in federal court the Cancer Fund of America, Cancer Support Services, Children's Cancer Fund of America and the Breast Cancer Society, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

The four charities and various executives were charged with using telemarketing calls, direct mail, websites and other materials to raise money. The money was supposed to provide cancer patients in the U.S. with pain medication, transportation to chemotherapy and hospice care.

Instead, the money was allegedly used to fund personal watercraft outings, sporting events, concert tickets, college tuition and, oddly enough, gym memberships, according to the FTC.

The charities allegedly used a series of schemes to hide their high administrative and fundraising costs from the public.

They falsely inflated their revenues "by reporting in publicly filed financial documents more than $223 million in donated 'gifts in kind' which they claimed to distribute to international recipients," the FTC said. "In fact, the defendants were merely pass-through agents for such goods."

By reporting the inflated donations, the charities were able to appear larger and more efficient with donations than they actually were, the FTC added.

Two of the charities, Children's Cancer Fund of America and Breast Cancer Society, reached settlements with the federal government. The charities will be dissolved and executives from each charity will be banned from fundraising and oversight of charitable assets.

They also will have to pay back the amounts they misappropriated, which is about $65 million for the Breast Cancer Society and $41 million for the Children's Cancer Fund of America.

Litigation against the other two charities is continuing, the FTC said.

Law enforcement officials from the states said they were outraged by the practice.

"The allegations of fundraising for personal gain the name of children with cancer and women battling breast cancer are simply shameful," said Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring.

The FTC found in 2011 that about 25 million Americans, nearly 11 percent of the adult population, were victims of fraud.

The agency warned consumers that to avoid being scammed make sure to check out a charity. They can do this by finding the charity on one of several ratings sites such as charitywatch.org or www.charitynavigator.org.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: cancer; charity; fraud; scams; scum

1 posted on 05/19/2015 6:41:53 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: afraidfortherepublic
Cancer Fund of America, Cancer Support Services, Children's Cancer Fund of America and the Breast Cancer Society

One problem is the similarity of organizational name for all of these cancer charities. The malicious deceit of these 4 has injured the good charities as well.

2 posted on 05/19/2015 6:47:15 PM PDT by xzins (Donate to the Freep-a-Thon or lose your ONLY voice. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

I thought this was about the Clintons....


3 posted on 05/19/2015 6:50:13 PM PDT by rrrod (at home in Medellin Colombia)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

This got me to thinking.

What is the purpose of the “Clinton Foundation” supposed to be?

I know what it actually is but am not sure what it is supposed to be. Is it a charity?


4 posted on 05/19/2015 6:51:43 PM PDT by yarddog (Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
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To: rrrod

The Feds are jealous.


5 posted on 05/19/2015 6:51:54 PM PDT by right way right
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Some years ago, Cancer fund of America called and asked for a pledge. After I got off the phone, I looked them up on the web. No way was I giving them money. Sickening.


6 posted on 05/19/2015 6:52:58 PM PDT by Marie Antoinette (:)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Most charities are like this, which is why I don’t trust 99% of them


7 posted on 05/19/2015 6:53:19 PM PDT by 4rcane
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To: xzins

We’ve got the same problem with all the Wounded Warrior and Veterans organizations.


8 posted on 05/19/2015 6:54:16 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: rrrod
I thought this was about the Clintons....

Which is why their "foundation" needs investigating. Their "expenses" are pretty high, as charities go.

9 posted on 05/19/2015 6:55:44 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: yarddog

It’s supposed to be a charity. It seems that the biggest recipients are the Clintons.


10 posted on 05/19/2015 6:57:34 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: afraidfortherepublic

O’Reilly heard about the problems with the Wounded Warrior Fund and had research on it done. The rumors had been that it had become an F rated veteran charity. Based on his report, it sounds like it’s actually about a grade of “B”.

To me, all that meant was that I had to look harder to find the “A” organizations.


11 posted on 05/19/2015 6:59:52 PM PDT by xzins (Donate to the Freep-a-Thon or lose your ONLY voice. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Tar and feather and dipped in cow poop.


12 posted on 05/19/2015 7:02:03 PM PDT by SkyDancer ( I Was Told Nobody Is Perfect But Yet, Here I Am ...)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Charity Navigator rates Wounded Warrior Project 3 out of 4 stars.

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=12842#.VVvrT6kXSok


13 posted on 05/19/2015 7:02:32 PM PDT by xzins (Donate to the Freep-a-Thon or lose your ONLY voice. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: right way right

My exact thought.


14 posted on 05/19/2015 7:06:09 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (The White House is now known as "Casa Blanca".)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

This corruption thing can really get out of hand unless you have a Clinton involved.


15 posted on 05/19/2015 7:17:56 PM PDT by Attention Surplus Disorder
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To: yarddog

What is the purpose of the “Clinton Foundation” supposed to be?


It’s truth in advertising. It’s a foundation for the Clintons. It’s institutionalize bribery.


16 posted on 05/19/2015 7:41:57 PM PDT by Flick Lives ("I can't believe it's not Fascism!")
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To: Flick Lives

You don’t even need to look at the Clinton foundations

They should be in prison for their activities with the Haiti Relief monies grafted by them. It was so bad even congress demanded oversight.


17 posted on 05/19/2015 8:01:31 PM PDT by VRWCarea51 (The original 1998 version)
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