COUNTYWIDE : Cancer Society Issues Bogus-Solicitor Alert

Local officials of the American Cancer Society warned consumers Monday to beware of “look-alike� organizations allegedly soliciting funds to fight cancer.

The warning was prompted by calls from about 30 Orange County residents who complained that they had received solicitations from a questionable cancer group, said Tom McPherson, the society’s director of marketing.

Groups often use titles such as “Society,� “American� or “Fund� so that they appear to be well-established national charities, cancer society officials said. But “less than 5 cents of every dollar collected by some of these groups actually benefits cancer research, education or service,� the organization said in a statement.

Some use high-pressure tactics such as sending couriers to collect donations or forwarding bogus “invoices� indicating an amount due, they said. Mailed solicitations from “look-alike� groups may also claim to offer sweepstakes, surveys and free prizes.

“I don’t want to say we’re the only organization out there that you should be sending money to,� McPherson said, but the “look-alike� organizations might not be licensed to solicit charitable donations.

Also, some are not members of the National Charities Information Bureau, a New York City agency that sets standards for charitable agencies, including a requirement that at least 50% of all money raised must be spent on the charitable service--not on fund raising.

American Cancer Society officials said consumers can determine whether a mailing is fraudulent by calling the U.S. Postal Inspector at 1-800-847-8847.

Also, they may write to the National Charities Information Bureau, 19 Union Square West, New York, N.Y. 10003-3395 for a publication entitled, “Give, but Give Wisely.�

“We are urging donors to be smart,� said James P. Burra, chairman of the Orange County ACS board of directors.