Complaint Review: US Veterans Assistance Foundation - Elm Grove Wisconsin

On the morning of Sep 5th, 2018, I received a call from an organization calling themselves the "US Veterans Assistance Foundation." When I answered the call, a man, who somehow knew my name, asked "is (my name) there?" I answered yes. Then, he proceeded to basically tell me about how they care about the vets and asked if they could count on my support by sending me an envelope. Not thinking twice as (at the time) they sounded legitimate, I immediately said yes. After agreeing to support, he then told me that there were "3 levels of support." They were $35, $50, $75. At first, I hesitated to answer since there was no option to set a custom donation, but I agreed to $35 since I felt a little pressured. Afterwards, I was transferred to someone who identified himself as 'Mark', who was the one supposed to handle the payment processing. He then stated that they accepted all major credit and debit cards as a payment method. Before continuing, I asked Mark if there was another way to pay, since I didn't have a credit/debit card at the time. He stated that they ask for one of those methods since it allows them to get the money right away and also stated that they do NOT ask for a security code of the card and they would also send me a confirmation number, which would also be reflected on a bank statement. After telling him I coudn't pay via credit or debit, he then proceeded to tell me that they could send an envelope instead. Afterwards, he then asked for proper spelling of my name, a mailing address, and zip code, all of which I provided.

A few days after that call, I received the envelope, which contained another envelope (for sending cash) and a letter talking about their mission and had a return pledge form on the bottom that would be torn out and be placed in the other envelope to be sent along with the cash. According to the pledge form, I had until Sep 13th to remit. I never sent them $35 since I never had the money and I had a fishy feeling about them. It wasn't until I did some research that I found out that they were not a charity, but rather a PAC (or so I've heard).

On the afternoon of Sep 24th, I received a call from 872-813-6490. Just like the very first call, a male asked for me specifically and then told me that they spoke to me a few weeks ago and never got my donation of $35. After being asked once again to donate via credit or debit, I didn't respond and I instead hung up and blocked that number (at the time I had already blocked the 773 number from where they first called me from). Just before typing this very complaint (on Sep 28th), I received a third call from this org, this time from 773-696-4538. It was a female, but just like the others, she asked for me specifically and stated she's from the same org. Again, I hung up and blocked the number. If all that isn't enough, according to an article from Politico, this "charity" is run by Robert Piaro, who has been the subject of BBB complaints and an FTC investigation into a telemarkting firm used by several of his PACs for deceptive practices. Piaro previously co-founded another veterans charity, called the Veterans Assistance Foundation, which also happens to be located in Wisconsin. According to the same article, a woman was found dead inside a dorm that was leased by the charity to help troubled vets. In 2013, the VAF was referred to as one of the "worst charities in America" by the Tampa Bay Times for spending a low percentage of its proceeds on services for veterans. Do NOT fall for this SCAM!