By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – The State Attorney General is cracking down on a telemarketing company that is allegedly misrepresenting itself in its solicitations on behalf of police charities in New York.
Eliot Spitzer was scheduled to announce Tuesday that a civil lawsuit is being filed against Liberty Productions of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Spitzer says telemarketers who work for the company have failed to identify themselves as professional fund raisers and lied that all proceeds would go to the charities.
He says Liberty understated the amount it raised for one police agency by more than $20,000, then underpaid the police group. Spitzer also accuses Liberty of reporting false figures to the state attorney general's office, which regulates charitable giving.
Spitzer accused the telemarketer of using the police groups' good reputations to turn a profit. He said donors were deceived until police reported their concerns.
Among those using Liberty's services was the Niagara Falls Police Club.