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Fraudulent charity 'disgraceful' to vets
StarTribube ^ | 8/15/09 | JEAN HOPFENSPERGER

Posted on 08/15/2009 6:08:24 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo

Janie VandenBosch's blood boils when she receives telephone solicitations from a group that calls itself the Minnesota Disabled Veterans.

The caller has offered to send her plastic bags, lightbulbs and other items in exchange for a donation. Problem is, VandenBosch works for Minnesota Disabled American Veterans (DAV) -- and her group has nothing to do with the calls.

"Sometimes I think I should just let them send me the bags so I can see who they are,'' said VandenBosch, who coordinates clothing donations to the state DAV. "But I'm also hearing about them from people who donate clothes to us. They say, 'You called us 10 times this week. What's happening?' ''

What's happening is that the Twin Cities is in the midst of a fundraising scam working its way around the nation. Nobody knows who is behind the phone calls, where they are being made and what the money is used for.

(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: fraud; phonecrooks; scam; scammers; veterans; vets
Just a heads-up...

I'll wager that this is going on in states other than Minnesota...

1 posted on 08/15/2009 6:08:24 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo
I buy my favorite disabled vet beer. I think direct action is important. Not so big on charities that don't do much.

/johnny

2 posted on 08/15/2009 6:12:58 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (God Bless us all, each, and every one.)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Excellent!


3 posted on 08/15/2009 6:15:32 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo (FR...Monthly Donors Wanted...I Upped My Monthly. Now, Up Yours.)
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo

It is, I’ve seen guys I could tell were never vets begging at stoplights with pre-printed signs and in uniform.

I believe they are acorn.


4 posted on 08/15/2009 6:17:05 PM PDT by usmcobra (Your chances of dying in bed are reduced by getting out of it, but most people still die in bed)
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To: usmcobra

Wouldn’t surprise me in the least....


5 posted on 08/15/2009 6:18:42 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo (FR...Monthly Donors Wanted...I Upped My Monthly. Now, Up Yours.)
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To: usmcobra

I going to send a note to Jean, the author of this article and determine if she’s up to doing some actual investigative reporting on this, not just relating the story.......


6 posted on 08/15/2009 6:31:30 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo (FR...Monthly Donors Wanted...I Upped My Monthly. Now, Up Yours.)
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To: JRandomFreeper
The DAV is active here, most of what I have seen involves transporting disabled vets for care at VA facillities. I have only a couple second hand accounts of their services, as I am neither disabled nor a veteran. None of the vets I know have said anything bad about them.

I am always leery of phone charity solicitation, and do not respond to phone calls from people I do not know.

7 posted on 08/15/2009 6:33:05 PM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
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Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: Smokin' Joe

As a DAV, my Father made them his pet charity. When he passed away, we were able to send them some nice memorial funds. Nice poeple.

I don’t don’t do phone charities, nor the door to door stuff.


9 posted on 08/15/2009 6:54:43 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo (FR...Monthly Donors Wanted...I Upped My Monthly. Now, Up Yours.)
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To: Morgana

“I can be a real bitch about stuff like this”

We need more like you.

;-)


10 posted on 08/15/2009 6:56:11 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo (FR...Monthly Donors Wanted...I Upped My Monthly. Now, Up Yours.)
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo

I have donated to them and Help Hospitalized Vets. The USO gets some, as do a couple of other veterans organizations. USMC Toys for Tots, a couple of local organizations, my church and the affiliated school, and the Salvation Army pretty well round out the list.


11 posted on 08/16/2009 12:24:41 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
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