Category: Federal/State Actions

Press Release related to a state action against a charity.

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OKLAHOMA – Attorney General Hunter Files Charity Fraud Charges against Former President of the Down Syndrome Association of Tulsa

TULSA – Attorney General Mike Hunter today charged a former board president of the Down Syndrome Association of Tulsa for allegedly embezzling money from the organization.

Jamie Harper faces 19 counts of embezzlement and one count of engaging in a pattern of criminal offenses after an investigation by the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit. Continue reading “OKLAHOMA – Attorney General Hunter Files Charity Fraud Charges against Former President of the Down Syndrome Association of Tulsa”

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BBB Wise Giving Alliance – Wise Giving Wednesday: Donate With Honor – Veterans Charity Misspends Funds and Is Permanently Closed

In the BBB Wise Giving Alliance’s continuing Wise Giving Wednesday series about the “Donate With Honor” press conference held at the Washington DC office of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) along with state Attorneys General and state charity regulators, we take a closer look at another one of the referenced veterans charities that was the subject of government action: National Vietnam Veterans Foundation. This organization was accused of mismanagement and misspending funds. Continue reading “BBB Wise Giving Alliance – Wise Giving Wednesday: Donate With Honor – Veterans Charity Misspends Funds and Is Permanently Closed”

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Washington – AG Ferguson files lawsuit against nonprofit founder with ties to organized crime

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today filed a lawsuit to shut down six fake nonprofit entities posing as well-known, international organizations created by Ian Richard Hosang, a former stockbroker who has ties to the mafia. The lawsuit alleges that Hosang could be using the nonprofits to cover up illegal activity.

Hosang created six nonprofit entities in Washington: American Cancer Society of Seattle, American Cancer Society of Washington, American Red Cross of Seattle, American Red Cross of Washington, United Way of Seattle and United Way of Washington. None of these nonprofits are related to the legitimate, charitable organizations with the same or similar names.

See full press release here.

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BBB Wise Giving Alliance – Wise Giving Wednesday: Donate With Honor – Charity Misled Donors in Appeals for Phone Cards for Troops

In the BBB Wise Giving Alliance’s continuing Wise Giving Wednesday series about the “Donate With Honor” press conference held at the Washington DC office of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) along with state Attorneys General and state charity regulators, we take a closer look at one of the referenced veterans charities that was misleading donors: Healing American Heroes. Continue reading “BBB Wise Giving Alliance – Wise Giving Wednesday: Donate With Honor – Charity Misled Donors in Appeals for Phone Cards for Troops”

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BBB Wise Giving Alliance – Wise Giving Wednesday: Donate With Honor – Shutdown of Illinois Veterans Charity

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance’s Wise Giving Wednesday last week featured the “Donate With Honor” press conference held at the Washington DC office of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) along with state Attorneys General and state charity regulators. Among other things, the conference sought to educate donors by helping them avoid misleading charity appeals and find trustworthy charities. This week, we’ll take a closer look at one of the featured cases: VietNow National Headquarters. This Illinois-based veterans charity was forced to stop operations after a November 2017 action collectively taken by 24 states led by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Continue reading “BBB Wise Giving Alliance – Wise Giving Wednesday: Donate With Honor – Shutdown of Illinois Veterans Charity”