Complaints Lodged Against Sham Cancer Charities

Attorney General Sam Olens and Secretary of State Brian Kemp joined with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and other state law enforcement officials in a complaint charging four sham cancer charities and their operators with bilking more than $187 million from consumers. The defendants told donors their money would help cancer patients, including children and women suffering from breast cancer, but the overwhelming majority of donations benefitted only the perpetrators, their families, friends and fundraisers.

According to the complaint, the defendants used the organizations for lucrative employment for family members and friends, and spent consumer donations on cars, trips, luxury cruises, college tuition, gym memberships, jet-ski outings, sporting events, concert tickets, and dating site memberships. They hired professional fundraisers who often received 85 percent or more of every donation.
Before making a donation, Georgians can visit the Charities Search Page on the Secretary of State’s website at http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/securities/registered_charities_search to check if a charity is registered in Georgia and use other online resources such as BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charities Watch or Charities Navigator to verify the effectiveness of a charity.”