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Attorney General Mike DeWine
DeWine reaches
$105,000 settlement with Massachusetts telemarketer
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced a
settlement with a Massachusetts-based business that allegedly solicited
Ohioans for charitable donations while misleading consumers into
thinking the calls were coming from a charity, versus a business.
Integral Resources Inc., a Cambridge, Massachusetts, professional
solicitor, has agreed to pay $105,000 and to comply with Ohio’s
charitable laws when contacting Ohioans for donations.
“Under the terms of this settlement, Ohioans will be better protected
from misleading charitable solicitations,” Attorney General DeWine
said. “Professional solicitors are for-profit businesses that collect
money for charities, usually keeping a significant portion for
themselves. While this is legal under Ohio law, solicitors must give
proper notice to consumers and follow applicable rules.”
The settlement, an assurance of discontinuance filed on Friday,
concludes a 2013 lawsuit filed by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in
the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.
The Attorney General’s lawsuit accused Integral Resources of failing to
notify potential donors that calls were coming from a professional
solicitor (versus a charity) and misrepresenting how much of donors’
contributions would go to the charity.
While the case was pending, Integral Resources voluntarily ceased its
Ohio solicitations. The settlement allows the business to resume its
solicitations, as long as it follows the law.
Specifically, Integral Resources agrees to:
Not mislead potential donors, including not
representing that callers are volunteers when they actually are paid
employees.
Monitor employees to make sure they are following
approved scripts.
Comply with applicable Ohio charitable law,
including registration requirements.
In addition, Integral Resources will pay $105,000 to the Attorney
General's Office to be used for charitable purposes.
Integral Resources has conducted several charitable solicitation
campaigns in Ohio, contacting Ohioans by phone and by mail to solicit
donations for various charitable organizations, including but not
limited to the American Council of the Blind (national), Amnesty
International USA Inc., Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith,
Environmental Defense Fund Inc., League of Conservation Voters Inc.,
Operation Lookout - National Center for Missing Youth, Planned
Parenthood Action Fund Inc., and Planned Parenthood Federation of
America Inc.
Individuals who receive calls seeking a donation should take the
following steps to protect themselves:
Ask questions about who is calling. Professional
solicitors, who are paid by charities to solicit on their behalf, must
provide basic information about the charity, in addition to the
solicitor’s own name, status as a professional solicitor, and if
requested, the percentage of gross revenue that will be retained by the
charity.
Ask for written information before sharing bank or
credit card information over the phone.
Look for warning signs, including overly aggressive
tactics or callers who are unable or unwilling to answer questions.
If you feel uncomfortable at any point during a
call, hang up.
Consumers can find additional information about wise giving strategies
or access lists of registered professional solicitors in Ohio by
contacting the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at
www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or by calling 800-282-0515.
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