(COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced a settlement with a Massachusetts-based business that allegedly solicited Ohioans for charitable donations while misleading consumers into thinking the calls were coming from a charity, versus a business.
Integral Resources Inc., a Cambridge, Massachusetts, professional solicitor, has agreed to pay $105,000 and to comply with Ohio’s charitable laws when contacting Ohioans for donations.
“Under the terms of this settlement, Ohioans will be better protected from misleading charitable solicitations,” Attorney General DeWine said. “Professional solicitors are for-profit businesses that collect money for charities, usually keeping a significant portion for themselves. While this is legal under Ohio law, solicitors must give proper notice to consumers and follow applicable rules.”
The settlement, an assurance of discontinuance filed on Friday, concludes a 2013 lawsuit filed by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.
The Attorney General’s lawsuit accused Integral Resources of failing to notify potential donors that calls were coming from a professional solicitor (versus a charity) and misrepresenting how much of donors’ contributions would go to the charity.
While the case was pending, Integral Resources voluntarily ceased its Ohio solicitations. The settlement allows the business to resume its solicitations, as long as it follows the law.
Specifically, Integral Resources agrees to:
- Not mislead potential donors, including not representing that callers are volunteers when they actually are paid employees.
- Monitor employees to make sure they are following approved scripts.
- Comply with applicable Ohio charitable law, including registration requirements.
In addition, Integral Resources will pay $105,000 to the Attorney General's Office to be used for charitable purposes.
Integral Resources has conducted several charitable solicitation campaigns in Ohio, contacting Ohioans by phone and by mail to solicit donations for various charitable organizations, including but not limited to the American Council of the Blind (national), Amnesty International USA Inc., Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, Environmental Defense Fund Inc., League of Conservation Voters Inc., Operation Lookout - National Center for Missing Youth, Planned Parenthood Action Fund Inc., and Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc.
Individuals who receive calls seeking a donation should take the following steps to protect themselves:
- Ask questions about who is calling. Professional solicitors, who are paid by charities to solicit on their behalf, must provide basic information about the charity, in addition to the solicitor’s own name, status as a professional solicitor, and if requested, the percentage of gross revenue that will be retained by the charity.
- Ask for written information before sharing bank or credit card information over the phone.
- Look for warning signs, including overly aggressive tactics or callers who are unable or unwilling to answer questions.
- If you feel uncomfortable at any point during a call, hang up.
Consumers can find additional information about wise giving strategies or access lists of registered professional solicitors in Ohio by contacting the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or by calling 800-282-0515.
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Documents
Assurance of Discontinuance (PDF)
Media Contacts
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Kate Hanson: 614-466-3840