Who Called Us

THEY ARE CALLING ALL HOURS OF DAY, NO MESSAGE AND I DON'T ANSWER...

Too busy to deal with paid fundraising groups. If someone wants my money, the least they can do is call me direct.

Anyhow, charitynavigator.org showed their phone number as (888) 840-5242. I called that number and asked to be removed from the calling list. They tried to get my address, but I refused to provide it. They haven't called yet today, so hopefully it worked.

This company called so often I finally started picking up the phone to find out who they were. After several calls, I was waiting for the online chat from the phone company to see if they have an illegal calls department (Verizon does - report these types of calls to them - sorry I don't have the phone number but Frontier took over this area). They called again when I was waiting, and I told the caller I was working on reporting them for illegal calls. She claimed she wasn't calling illegally. I asked who she was calling on behalf of, and finally got an answer.

I thought this was a good company dealing with breast cancer but after not sending the money right away because I wanted to research the company. they Have called me asking for a credit card to make a donation and they keep calling.

I don't answer calls from this number. It is for a cancer fund raising, but not the American Cancer Society. I'm going to block calls from this number. They keep on calling even though I said I was unable to donate.

I think Ms. Jefferson's story helps underline my points throughout this thread. These so-called ''charity'' callers are mercenary at best and a bunch of creepy thugs at worst. Don't believe for a minute that you are dealing with a pure and kind ''nonprofit'' effort to take your money.

Linked below find the simple steps I took to rid myself of a major pain charity beggar by politely rubbing its face in federal laws. You will note that I never rely on verbal cease-communication demands.
(9018819984) whocalled.us

I received a call at 9:30 this morning - it came up ACS as id. I answered and they asked to speak to my mother who is deceased. I told them she was deceased and to please remove her from the list and then they hung up on me. 3 hrs later the same number came up so I answered again and when they asked for my mother I responded with "you have already called this morning.." and before I could say another word they same woman's voice from the morning call rudly interupted me and said "This is the first call made to this number!" and immediately hung up. That's stupid!!! Most people at least apologize when I tell them she is deceased, but the same woman has been rude to me twice. I tried to call the number back but it says it is a "cellular number that is not assigned" You've got to be kidding me!!!

Caller called at 8:57 p.m. - almost hit the 9 p.m. deadline - rang 4 times and evidently hung up before machine kicked on.

As usual, when I didn't recognize the #, I answered the phone saying: "________ Police Dept.". THAT got rid of them in a hurry!

DID NOT LEAVE MESSAGE

HARRASSING EVERYDAY, I DO NOT ANSWER THE PHONE AND WILL NOT. IF THEY WANT TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE IN THE HOME THEY NEED TO LEAVE A MSG. THEY CALL AT LEAST 2 TIMES A DAY LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE.

Sure, I can get behind the comment from ''Complaint Filer'', in particular the need to document violative calls thoroughly. I'd also agree that commercial fundraising adds another layer of deception and money-grubbing to ''charities'' which cannot seriously be called nonprofit enterprises. It's not hard to find the tax filings and watchdog reports of these various entities which think that shaking a coin can somehow makes them immune to fraud charges.

My advice has not changed any since my June 2011 comment in this thread. It may be worth noting that complaints under the DNC program merely add to a database. That pool of intel is useful when enforcers feel like kicking tail, but you cannot expect your one complaint to create urgency or inspire a response. This is why I suggest other complaint channels which may sooner attract human intervention, not to mention doing your own footwork and filing civil suits when possible.

Supposedly, American Cancer Society ... dealt with this caller before ... SCAM!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday - 1/26/2012 - 1:33 p.m. Caller ID said "ACS" -I did not answer and they did not leave a message on my answering machine.

Hey, I just scanned this comment page and saw myself! My previous comment was Feb 5, 2011. So I guess if you never answer these type of scam phone calls, they'll only call you once a year. At least I hope that's how it works. Let's see if this was just the first of a new series of bothersome calls.

Tried to get me to agree to them sending a pledge card. I said mail info. She said it IS a pledge card, ma'am. I said i would not commit to an amount on the phone. She thanked me and hung up.

YEah.. I complain alot.. Something this website is all about.. This outfit called us just before 11 am today. And. Since most comments clearly point to an organization which appears to be claiming to be a non-profit charity it is clear that they need to be properly investigated. The only way to get this done is to give a detailed discription of the call when you file your complaint against them with the NDNCR because if they are NOT a true charity they DO NOT qualify for the exemption as prescribed by the NDNCR for such callers. So... When you get a solicitation call CLAIMING to be a charity or non-profit organization but you do not believe it.. FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE CALL WITH THE NDNCR! It is their responsibility to insure full compliance with the law by ALL Non-Profit Charity organizations and they can not do anything about fraudsters hiding behind a FAKED charity name unless they are made aware that it is happening and by whom. I believe even Resident47 would aggree with these points.. He may even be able to offer more precise advise about how to report such fraudulant callers. Thank you for all your input Resident47!

Called but did not leave message.

ACS...called line 2...fax line...definite scam.

just got a call from thes number, no one on the other end, registered as ACS, bogus call, reporting to the Detroit attorney general now

11:37 am no msg left

answer phone and non one there. what good does it do to have no call

@ confused: be careful saying "yes" to unknown callers.

I have heard of people being billed for services because the scammers recorded them saying the word "yes" and then using that recording as proof to switch phone companies or adding other services (as an example).

The caller asked if I was - said my name- and I said yes and then they hung up. Weird.

You're welcome, Keitaro. The ACS acronym can also match fundraiser Associated Community Services. It might take some drilling to extract the real business name behind charity calls, but it's worth the work to invoke useful protections from the rain of calls these profit-centered boiler rooms create.

Sorry for the typo I meant to say "I did not know that". :|

@ Resident47, I just came back by here and saw your post, I did not no that thank you for the heads up.

This caller is not the ACS or, American Cancer Society. It is a scammer from Detroit Michigan. Don't answer!

Creeps are listed as "ACS" - whatever that means. Thank heavens for Call BLOCK!

8:14AM on a vacation day. Asked for my husband. Would not identify which charity was calling. Avoided all my questions. Asked to be put on Do Not Call List. Exceedingly impolite telemarketer.

I do not waste my time answering unknown numbers; no message was left.

Claimed they were raising money for cancer hospice

Keitaro: Your Mom was told perhaps a half truth. ACS has been a repeat client of InfoCision for years. I and others have already discussed commercial fundraising in this thread. ACS itself may not work any phones, but they've certainly hired out for that job.

This number 313-203-8198 from Detroit, MI called my parents at home, the call ID showed up as "ACS" and a woman asked my mom if she would like to make a donation to the American Cancer Society my mom called the number back and it says the number is not assigned. She then called THE American Cancer Society and was told they do not solicit donations over the phone and to be careful because it was a scam.

The ACS is a scam using the real American Cancer Society’s name to make themselves money.
It is bad enough they want to scam people but to use a place like the American Cancer Society’s name for their greed that’s pretty low Huh?

No message just random calling several days in a row. Did not answer and do not intend to.

I never answer ANY call(s) from"unknowns or unidentified" callers because they are Never legitimate calls. Why waste your time? Some people just seem to have nothing better to do with their time...

?

Yes, I understand the term "extortion", and I read with care everything I respond to. I saw that a call came for Chris eight minutes too early in the day as well. I'm not dismissing your expertise, only doubtful of a ruling in his favor, against what seems to be a dirty player, over 2.5 years after the fact. He didn't actually revoke call permission before the violative calls in a manner which can be proven. A verbal "not interested" isn't the same thing.

This can turn into a "he-she-said" matter where you just hope the opposition makes a poor defense or is a no-show. I'm not even sure this would migrate from a civil to a criminal venue. Again, I won't say you're wrong, and I'm always willing to be corrected and put a new tool in my bag for consumer defense, but many of us are stuck with ineffective paper mill lawyers and biased Mayberry-spawned judges who have to be taught the laws with exacting pain.

@Resident47: If you would have READ my post, I said that they would be going to jail for EXTORTION! I've got a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice, so I know what I'm talking about. No, they won't go to jail for making phone calls, but the EXTORTION part of it, they can.

Michaela: No one is going to jail for placing charity calls. It would take seriously hard litigation to get this incident past the ''victimless crime'' assumption, though it was flat wrong for the rep to essentially request a bribe.

The dirty secret is that the majority of beggar calls are placed by a commercial fundraiser, such as Associated Community Services, Dial America, Harris, InfoCision, MDS, and TeleFund. A couple other names are cited in this thread in helpful entries from 2010.

The calls are exempt from federal DNC under the charity status, even though such call centers are very much for-profit and pocket most of what these periodic campaigns collect. At times the ''charity'' client is itself a closet profit enterprise, compounding the deception. However, as commercial entities, these hired call centers are expected to honor an internal no-call list and add any number upon request. Break that order, the FTC declares, and ''the telemarketer may be subject to a fine of up to $16,000.'' They are also covered to a point by other regulations for telepests, so you can kvetch about abandoned calls, bot calls to mobile phones, and so on.

What else to do? File complaints with the FTC and attorneys general, and the charity group doing the hiring. When the boiler room calls, try getting on a master ''no-call'' list for all of that firm's charity clients. (See more discussion under this number: 9018819984 ) If a given commercial fundraiser seems deaf to your demands, and/or merely renews its pestering with the next campaign, turn up your volume on paper. Send a cease-comm notice via USPS Certified with return card. It need not say more than to stop calling and writing whatever numbers and addresses you want protected.

A charity call campaign must usually be cleared through some agency or regulator in your state, and many states make activity reports available online. They often reveal a specified period of weeks or months in which the group is permitted to solicit, sometimes tracking well with the observations on these call forums. Find those reports and you'll find one more desk to advise of your displeasure.

@Chris: If they tried to extort money from you, you should contact your local police department and let them know. Also contact the FCC and FTC and tell them that they tried to extort from you. Whoever was on the phone with you, will do some hard time in jail for it.

They just called here, but I didn't answer and they didn't leave a message on the voicemail. I looked up the number and came across this. It's nice to know that we @$$holes out there. I would love to beat the crap out of them.

3 rings and then they hang up. They don't even wait for the answering machine to pick up.

Called Thursday afternoon- no message,
Called Friday 8 AM woke me up. No Message.

When I call the number recording says, "The cellular number you have called is not assigned. Please check the number ...".

When you call this number back a recorder says "the cellular number you have called is not assigned"

Said she was from Cancer Support services or something like that. I hung up.

This number called at 3:00 pm today; left no message.

I hung up because I suspected fraud.

been calling 1ce a day since 2/25/11. No message - I have no idea who it is...

This is another bulls**t number that keeps calling. Another person has noted that there are companies who robo-call just to see if anybody answers the phone; even if you answer they never say anything. The just want to know that if you are called on a Wednesday between 2-4 pm (for example), then you WILL answer the phone. Then they sell that information to telemarketers, survey takers, and other companies who want to call you when you're home, not when you're not home.
Since we NEVER answer a "toll-free" or "out-of-area" call, we are never home. Screw you, robo-call!

She kept asking me if I spoke english. I kept saying Si' but she wouldn't go any further She just kept asking for me and I would say es mi' but she wouldn't give any more information until I would speak english. so I hung up.

Error in 1st message, Call spoofer is less than $300.

Remember you can buy a call spoofer device on the internet for less than $3000.
You can then make the caller ID display any number you wish.
I believe this is what many of the shady organizations or businesses do.

That is why when you call back many times you get no answer or a disconnected
number tone.

Caller ID simply read "DETROIT". No message left.

I got a call this morning. The caller id displayed "NOT_AVAILABLE" and the phone number 313-203-8198. I normally do not answer these calls. If the caller's name is not available i am not available either. They are a real PITA.

They call and call, hang up when answered. I just filed a complaint online with the FCC about this number. Fortunately I have a caller ID box that blocks numbers. Unfortunately it does ring once before getting zapped. Been on the D.N.C. list since day one. (not dusting and cleaning) These morons just will not give up. They must be in the evil business of calling people from 703-291-9005 because that number rings about 15 minutes after the first one - also filed a FCC complaint on these bozos!

These people have been calling my number at least twice a day, any time of the day, for the last month. I never answer the phone and never will. I just hope they give up soon.

erc'd call late at nite, no one there, sounded like butt dial. googled the number 313-203-8198, foun dmany many many reports of bogus charity etc... it may be a scam to get you to call it ack so they can charge you.
good luck. Waldo.

woman called from this number asked for my husband, he wasn't home, I asked if I could take a message they hung up!!

Call at anytime of day or night. Last call was 8:45 P.M. - who do they think they are. I don't care if they need jobs or not. I need my sleep, and rest... not to be hounded by 'jerks' - I donate to whom I choose, not from Marketing... NOT A REAL Cancer Center.

Cross posting. Read full article here: . From the August 2010 Charity Rating Guide & Watchdog Report:

"Donors who have been misled or harassed by charity telemarketers know how insidious some telephone fundraisers can be. In a signal that the regulators know it, too, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has ordered the operators of the telemarketing company Civic Development Group (CDG) to pay $18.8 million, the largest penalty ever handed down in a consumer protection case."

"CDG fundraised for numerous local firefighter, police and veterans charities. They also had contracts with several groups that received F ratings from AIP, including Cancer Fund of America, Children's Charity Fund/A Child's Wish Foundation, Disabled Veterans Association, Firefighters Charitable Foundation/Fire Victims, and the Childhood Leukemia Foundation. The Virginia Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the AIP F rated charity, Paralyzed Veterans Association, was also a client of CDG."

I highly recommend reading the articles regarding any cancer, veteran etc. group you are considering for donations. Some real eye openers on some national organizations.

called today at 1:35 did not answer, this # has been calling almost daily and I never answer, they are relentless I do not think it will let up
Also getting daily calls from P3OPLE RSPNZ daily and the stupid dog message on mach. They never give up.

Raising money for cancer patients. They are listed in the Charity Navigator web site as collecting roughly $7 million each year and almost nothing goes to their cause. They have extremely high fundraising costs and pay out $340,000 in compensation (no doubt to 1 or 2 employees)

Said they were raising money for breast cancer.

Caller said they support cancer hospice care.

Received a call from this number at 1:35 pm some charity looking for money for any thing cancer related. Then at 1:41 pm received another call from a different number for leukemia (found out from looking it up) no one there and then hung up on me, too much of a coincidence not to be the same people. Call blocked them.

Hung up as I answered.

Let me add a thought on all of the telemarketing RoboCalls. They are robotic in that there can be nobody on the other end. Just random automatic dialing. Many (not collection agencies necessarily) are for the intention of seeing what phones are manually answered at homes across the nation and the time you're at home and answering it. The minute you pick up the phone at say 9am, and try to talk to somebody, they are keeping a record of your phone's activity. They may call again at 10:30am, 1:15pm ,etc possibly up to 10 or 12 calls. Anytime you DO answer, and whenever you answer, that becomes the 'personality' of your phone.

These Robo companies sell your number to telemarketers who welcome the opportunity of getting someone to talk with at certain times of the day. I've heard of this procedure in the past and it's getting worse as the economy suffers. Everybody wants YOUR money. Nothing new!

Best defense? DO NOT answer the phone. If it should be someone important, they will leave you a voice mail, which in fact you could interrupt if it's Aunt Jane in Phoenix visiting. If you don't have Voice Mail, get it. Answer machines are cheap and can multitask. After you have snubbed the calls from these numbers, eventually they die down if not out as a rule. Put up with the ringing phone or you just get in deeper with Robocalls. Good luck.......

Current Commercial Fundraisers
Posted by Massman | May 21, 2010 11:25:36 AM

Commercial Fundraisers are the people that call you and collect donations for charity(s). Generally they keep the majority of the donations themselves, giving only a small portion to the charity(s).

Vehicle Donation Processing Center, Inc. 15% of the contributions raised by this organization were returned to or retained by the charity client(s). Associated Community Services 38% of the contributions raised by this organization were returned to or retained by the charity client(s). Bee, L.C. 15% of the contributions raised by this organization were returned to or retained by the charity client(s). Corporations For Character, LC no data.

You can check here: sos.wa.gov


To stop these calls
Posted by Massman | April 30, 2010 5:55:45 AM

1) Collect the name, address, and phone number of the Commercial Fundraiser, which contacted you. 2) Contact your local Attorney General's Office Charity division, with the Commercial Fundraiser's information in hand. 3) Ask the Assistant Attorney General to request the Commercial Fundraiser to not contact you again.

You may also collect the charity's information and request the charity not contact you again.

some bill collectors would rather people think they are male prostitutes or crack whores than use their real name or number. Un fortunately they are the same.

i have a video of them claiming to be from the american cancer society, wanting donations, i told em to get a job and quit begging for money

I am on the no call list and dont know why I would get telemarketers calling me. ---I did answer last week told them to quit calling and they hung up on me -

No one there when answered.

I checked out the BBB for this org. Turns out this particular bunch is listed as a business, has an address and phone number in Manhattan Kansas, but should be listed under the Michigan BBB site. Checked the Michigan BBB site, they're listed by address in Kansas, as a business, not as a charity. Pretty sneaky, and no where to file a complaint. Non profits are sure money makers, it seems. Take my advice...charity begins at home, not with these Bozos.

I got a call today from this number and called the number back, and was told by a recording that this cell phone number is not assigned yet. I guess they have their wires crossed up because it is assigned!!!! No message left on voicemail and showed unknown caller

This number calls daily while no one is home and the caller never leaves a message. My husband and son were home once and my son answered. Caller asked for me, son said no but you can talk to my dad, they said no thanks and never left an actual message. Continue to call daily though.

message on hold. asked for mr XXXX twice then hung up. other sites say when number is called back it is an unassigned cell phone number. i.e. scammer / spoofer. may id themeselves as cancer charity (or other) do not give any money or info.

PUT ME ON YOU "DO NOT CALL LIST"

Robo call...nobody on line. Called later and left no message. Irritating.

Caller left no message on voice mail.

Calling the number the phone system says it's "not an assigned number." So, what does it mean that an "unassigned" number can be calling?

Likely a cheesy collection company whom I reported two months ago to the FCC. The FCC said there was nothing they could do about it. No action taken. I have no debt.

Called on Sunday. Did not answer because caller Id gave a number I did not recognize and Michigan. Don't know anyone in Michigan either. Do they really need to bother people on the Sunday after Christmas?

number called. answered with my name. they hung up.

I also am on the "do not call" list. Have told these people, along with numerous others, that we're not in a situation to give and to take us off the list. Told them if we want to donate, we will do so if we are ever in the financial situation to do so. Today, got home for lunch saw had a miss call, played message-surprise, no message. I realize everyone, including legit charities, are hurting in these times of financial woes, but, if I want to give I will do so my own way and NOT over the phone to an "unavailable" number!

Calls come from this number couple times a week never leaving a message. Going to turn it along with a few others to the FCC and State Attorney General Fraud Division for my state.

When I called this number back, the operator says it's an "unassigned" cell phone number and to check the number and dial again.

This is a front so called "Cancer Fund of America" for a collection agency! It's against the Federal Law! I reported to FTC. (ftc.gov)

what's that you say, the cats in the bag and the bag is in the lounge? I called them back and told the answering machine 'your call is important to us' the hallmark of modern insincerity in calling etiquette. I read a ludicrously funny story in Bobby and Jacky tonight. JFK hired a press agent for Jackie, just a kid and didn't know anything about being a secretary. Jackie told the campaign worker who was supposed to to explain it to the First Lady that she was reluctant, but that it would be OK. JFK simply started having sex with this 'press secretary' immediately. Later Jack hired a young physical therapist from LA to move to DC and help him relieve his bad back. Pierre Salinger interviewed the girl. The therapist asked for a medical report on the President's condition. She didn't get one. The first appointment JFK makes clear that he just wants sex and fellatio first. The shocked therapist gave both to him, but was appalled and quit the job six weeks later. She kept her mouth shut for 45 years until she read reports about JFK having sex with both Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield. Its all in Richard Heynmann's book Bobby and Jackie. I've been reading all these books for about 20 years now. Each one of them has new tales to tell. Heynmann's book claims he ran across the Bobby and Jackie business while researching Jack and Jackie, another book filled with these assertions. I'd like to get the therapist on the phone, I have a few of my own questions.

I answered and no one said anything

Asked for my husband - wouldn't say who they were.

Dirt Bags.........why people (like some below) actually answer these calls and spill their life stories to frauds like this is simply beyond understanding. Unfortunately, that's what keeps these bottom feeders in business.

all i know is REAL CHARITIES LIST THE NAME AND NUMBER OF THE PLACE THEIR CALLING FROM. THESE BOZOES BLOCK THE NAME, AND SOME TIMES THE NUMBER, WHEN CALLING THE FTC TO REPORT THEM I GOT SOME YOUNG GIRL ON THE PHONE WHO TOLD ME TO REPORT THEM TO THE STATES ATTORNEY, I SAID HELLO.... THEY TOLD ME TO REPORT IT TO U! ITS AGAINEST FEDERAL LAW FOR ANY KIND OF CHARITY, OR DEBIT COLLECTOR TO CALL U REPEATEDLY, look up consumer debit credt act. these auto dialer numbers are irking me to death , by the way,

This is a despicable outfit. A lady calling from this number first rang my house earlier this week. She said she was calling for "The Cancer Fund of America," which supposedly does "hospice care." She sounded legit but I have to believe this outfit is a sleazy one. Here's why...

I explained to her that my wife has cancer and that financially we weren't in any position to give right now. She then hung up. Then today, the phone woke my wife (who's exhausted and in pain from her meds) a 7:52 a.m. with another call. I was half asleep, too, but I recognized the number on our bedside phone and we let it ring. The hope was we could both try to grab a few more winks before our three young children woke us.

An hour later they rang again. We didn’t answer. And then they rang again 30 minutes later. (Even though we’re on the "do not call" list.) When I finally picked up, a woman who sounded exactly like the one I spoke to a few days ago proceeded to read through the same script. I explained again (this time in more detail) that my wife had Stage IV Cancer, that our medical bills were astronomical, and that we weren't in a position to give. Just in case she wasn't the same person, I stressed, "Look, you people called me earlier in the week, I explained all this then, please take us off your call list."

Rather than grasp that Stage IV Cancer is the "incurable kind" where you eventually need hospice care, she went right back at me saying, "If you can donate $25, I can take you off the call list." Essentially, the telemarketer was trying to extort a donation in exchange for not harassing us anymore. Incredible.

My wife and I have given generously to American Cancer Society and Susan G. Komen. We give to legitimate charities as much as we are legitimately able to give (i.e., we don't donate money when we have thousands of dollars more in bills than our insurance will cover). Either this charity is a monumental mound of B.S. (that’s my bet) or they are clueless to the fact that their callers are harassing the very people they came to be calling to help out.

If they ever call you again, feel free to share my story. I told them to take me off the list, but I’m sure they will call again. In fact, I’m sure they’d have kept calling even (especially) if I’d given in to the extortion.

if they are a charity they can call even though we are on the do not call list... but calling at eight at night! I wouldn't give them anything even if they were legit (which I doubt) after calling me at night...

More on these people: charitynavigator.org

I have gotten several calls from groups like this lately. These all seem to be related to the same group despite the fact that the calls come from different numbers. I am on the do not call list and, as others have stated on other pages, these guys seem to be a scam of scam of some sort.

Thought I was on the Do Not Call list. I don't answer and don't care who they are. I only know they are a pest.

I keep getting a call from this number and i tried to call it back but the phone company says that it is not a valid number. The name is Michigan, number is 313
-203-8198.

we dont know any one who lives in mich i wish they would not call any more

I blocked several calls from other numbers in the last few days from Detroit, so here's a new one today. I think they all belong to the same people.

will not speak up / guess the cat has there tounge.