AG SUES TELEMARKETERS OVER ILLEGAL POLICE, WISH SOLICITATIONS

September 8, 2004

SEPTEMBER 8, 2004

STANLEY PIECUCH, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, 207-626-8818

 

The Attorney General’s Office announced today that it has filed suit against Florida-based International Law Enforcement Games, Inc., and its paid fundraiser All-Pro Telemarketing Associates Corp., in connection with a telephone solicitation campaign that they conducted in Maine in late 2003 and early 2004.

The complaint, filed in the Kennebec County Superior Court, alleges that the two entities violated the Maine Solicitation by Law Enforcement Officers Act by representing to prospective Maine donors that donations would benefit law enforcement officers, agencies, or associations.

The complaint further alleges that both defendants violated the Unfair Trade Practices Act by representing that their contributions would assist a “major children’s wish fulfillment organization” that they failed to identify.  They misled numerous prospective donors into believing that their contributions would benefit the more commonly known Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine.

Finally, the complaint alleges that the paid professional fund raiser violated the Charitable Solicitations Act by soliciting contributions from Maine residents without fully disclosing to them at the time of solicitation but prior to the request for contributions both its name and address and the fact that it was a professional charitable fund raiser.

The complaint seeks an injunction against the two defendants, as well as civil penalties, restitution, and costs.

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