Beware of Fake Veterans Organization - INDIANA VETERANS RELIEF FUND

Since 02-08-07

From: Richard M. Rogers [mailto:rrogers13@san.rr.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 6:48 AM
To: undisclosed-recipients@ms-smtp-01.socal.rr.com
Subject: Re: Fw: BEWARE OF FAKE VETERANS ORGANIZATION

 This was received from a leader of our veterans community and I request that you consider sharing it with family, friends and fellow veterans.

Dick

 From the Office of the Director of Public Relations

                                                Post Office Box 2351, Indianapolis, IN 46206-2351

                    ATTENTION ---EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

    Notify your members that there is a FAKE so-called Veterans Organization operating out of Beech Grove, Indiana that has a primary goal of soliciting money through telephone calls with the spiel they are giving telephone cards to our military men and women.

       This outfit calls itself INDIANA VETERANS RELIEF FUND

       They are using a storefront address at 157 Bethel, Suite B, Beech Grove, IN 46107.  Telephone (317) 783-1974.

        Indiana Veterans Relief Fund is operating under a blanket organization called Common Ground Charities, Inc.  A Michael Q. Risley, Jr. is listed as Director of Fund Raising and a Tanya Risley is shown to be the Office Manager.

        I visited the location and talked with Ms. Risley.  The rented office space is essentially a telephone "Boiler Room"  I viewed about a half-dozen people sitting at small work areas facing three walls wearing headphones and mikes making telephone calls.  The front office room and rear telephone room are unkempt and dirty with no trappings of a veterans' organization.  No Flags, no wall pictures, no sign of any patriotism.  I confronted Ms. Risley with some pointed questions.  "How many telephone calling cards have been issued to American troops?"  (She said they gave some to departing troops at Camp Atterbury but couldn't tell me when or how many.)  "How much money has been solicited since this operating began last year?"  (She told me the figures have not been compiled and are not available.)

     Ms. Risley informed me they are legal.  I told her there is a difference of being legal on paper and morally correct in practice!  (I am convinced this outfit is only interested in lining their own pockets with cash from proud Americans whom think they're helping our military and our men and woman in uniform.)

     The Indiana Consumer Protection section of the Attorney Generals Office appears to be not interested in this situation after talking with them at length. 

IF WE CAN'T SHUT THIS OUTFIT DOWN WE CAN AT LEAST GET THE WORD OUT:

VETERAN'S & CONSUMER'S BEWARE! 

          Donald F. Myers, USMC Retired

Department of Indiana, Marine Corps League

Director of Public Relations

Contact point Indianapolis Marine Corps League Office:

 (317) 546 7228 (or write Marine Corps League, POB 2351, Indianapolis, IN 46206-2351 (Attn:  Director of PR D. F. Myers