Contact 6: Scammers use "charities" to target vulnerable

MILWAUKEE -- On the heels of tragedies like Superstorm Sandy and the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, relief organizations collect money to help. However, whenever there is a time of giving, there are those looking to take advantage through scams.

Officials say con men were behind a charitable fraud scheme that involved 450,000 victims across the United States and $10 million.

Asking for funds for bullet proof vests for police officers was one of many false claims solicitors for this bogus charity would make to persuade potential donors to hand over money.

Officials say their strategy was to target the vulnerable and convince them that the little they had to give was going to do something good. 

"Unfortunately, the opposite was true," former district attorney Rich White said.

Postal inspectors say just pennies on the dollar actually went to any charity. The rest of the money went into the pockets of the telemarketers.

"The owners of the company were living large. They had large homes, recreational vehicles, boats, water skis, and jet skis," U.S. Postal Inspector Dean Kowalefski said.

Officials urge folks not to donate money over the phone unless there is assurance it is a viable charity. 

"In this case and in many of the cases the unreputable telemarketers -- if you ask for something in writing - you`re not going to get anything," Kowalefski said.

Postal inspectors also advise never donating cash, and write checks out to the organization -- never an individual.