Alabama Sheriff's Association just called me

[Ime]

They were asking for money.

Her opening line: "I see you've been staying out of trouble this year."

Almost like she was looking at my record (I have no criminal record for those of you who may ask)

I'm a giving guy, and I support law enforcement... but am I the only one finding that approach too spooky? That opening line turned me off to pledging this time around, and I told her so.

Excuse me, I'm gonna go take a walk... that was too freaky.

 

[Nocturnal]

Perhaps it's just a catch phrase to get people to think that she's really looking at your record?

 

[Ime]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Perhaps it's just a catch phrase to get people to think that she's really looking at your record?

Maybe, but it freaked me out.

If she had just called say said something like: "Hi, I represent the Alabama's Sheriff Association, and we are asking for donations to help (insert law enforcement cause here)." I would have signed up. Her opening line made me feel like they were "checking up" on me.

Very creepy, to me.

 

[clicknext]

They're watching your every move.

 

[Crazymofo]

I would have done the same thing Ime....

 

Never donate to people who CALL YOU. If you still want to donate, call up the actual association found in the phone book and donate directly to the agency.

Companies that telemarket for donations take a crazy high percentage of the money donated.

 

[emmpee]

Originally posted by: Ime
They were asking for money. Her opening line: "I see you've been staying out of trouble this year." Almost like she was looking at my record (I have no criminal record for those of you who may ask) I'm a giving guy, and I support law enforcement... but am I the only one finding that approach too spooky? That opening line turned me off to pledging this time around, and I told her so. Excuse me, I'm gonna go take a walk... that was too freaky.

This may be a scam. Similar things have happened in the past in Pennsylvania involving police/sheriff organizations soliciting donations over the phone. The local news did several pieces on it, and they couldn't find anybody in those respective organizations that knew about the solicitations. Proceed with caution.

Oh and also, it's a pretty safe bet that they say that to everybody ("staying out of trouble"). Either A) it's true, or B) it isn't, but you now believe that the police think you have a clean record. Makes everybody happy.

 

[Sukhoi]

We got similar scam calls here in Ohio a few months ago. My dad is a fireman so he talked to the cops and there was no organization that these people were claiming to be calling from.

 

[Harvey]

I don't believe any cold caller who tells me they're from a law enforcement "association" and asks for money. It's a scam.

 

[Trevelyan]

Originally posted by: jumpr
Never donate to people who CALL YOU. If you still want to donate, call up the actual association found in the phone book and donate directly to the agency.

Companies that telemarket for donations take a crazy high percentage of the money donated.

Tell me about it... I used to work for one of those telemarketing agency... only 18% of the proceeds actually went to the place we were taking donations for.

Originally posted by: emmpee


This may be a scam. Similar things have happened in the past in Pennsylvania involving police/sheriff organizations soliciting donations over the phone. The local news did several pieces on it, and they couldn't find anybody in those respective organizations that knew about the solicitations. Proceed with caution.

Heh, I also worked for a company like that.. oh WAIT, that was the same company

(OK, it wasn't a real scam, but it sure felt like one)

 

[BooGiMaN]

hmmm i think a better opening line would have been

hello Mr. so and so i see you have been staying out of trouble this year.....and if you want to keep it that way you better pay up ...cuz im watching u...and i can make it look like a felony...you know what i mean sonny.....and Bubba is getting sooo lonely!

So pay up !!

so how much to i put u down for...hmmmmmmmm

 

[Fiveohhh]

They gave me a call once, but I felt I paid my fair share in speeding tickets

 

[Mallow]

that does sound a little odd... I've been called by the Texas equivilant to that organization and I think they had better telemarketers

 

[arcas]

Chances are this guy was a professional solicitor whose company passes only a small fraction of the donation to the charity. In Kentucky, all professional solicitors are required to register themselves with the state attorney general's office and to list the percentage of the donation kept by the solicitor and the percentage passed onto the charity. Furthermore, if you ask, they are required by KY law to tell you that they are professional solicitors and what the percentages are. Happily, the KY AG placed this information on their website (here. Your state might have a similar setup.

According to this list, Facter Direct, LTD is particularly profit-hungry...often keeping 99% of the donation for itself.

 

[Parrotheader]

I'm pretty sure it isn't a scam, although how much of the donation they take off the top I don't know. I also live in Alabama and have had to deal with this group calling for years now. I've never had that line used on me, but it would tick me off too. Now we just don't pick up the phone anymore if it's an unidentified caller.

 

[Ime]

That's the thing, the caller wasn't unidentfied. My Caller ID showed a phone # in Birmingham. My sister is visiting one of her friends there, so I thought she was calling me.

 

[MrCoffee]

Higher prices at Waffle House?

Too bad non-profits are not stopped by the "Do Not Call" list. :disgust:

I wouldn't think the caller would really have access to anyone's record. Also, when I've received such calls, they have been by telemarketers hired by the agency/organization.

 

[eakers]

my little brother used to actually make these calls on the behalf of some police order of ny.. they had to call from canada so they could legally call people on the ny do not call list. once he actually got a ny police officer and he yelled at him about how there wasn't even an organisation by that name hehe.

 

[Cyberian]

Originally posted by: arcas
Chances are this guy was a professional solicitor whose company passes only a small fraction of the donation to the charity. In Kentucky, all professional solicitors are required to register themselves with the state attorney general's office and to list the percentage of the donation kept by the solicitor and the percentage passed onto the charity. Furthermore, if you ask, they are required by KY law to tell you that they are professional solicitors and what the percentages are. Happily, the KY AG placed this information on their website (here. Your state might have a similar setup.

According to this list, Facter Direct, LTD is particularly profit-hungry...often keeping 99% of the donation for itself.

Wow!!

How could the likes of The American Heart Assn. and The American Cancer Society allow themselves to be assiciated with an outfit that keeps 99% of donations?
:Q