North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem is extending a consumer alert issued Oct. 4 to include charitable fund-raising activities by Public Awareness Inc. on behalf of the Coalition of Police and Sheriffs, American Veterans Relief Foundation, and ADSA.
This is in addition to the previous alert concerning the Association for Disabled Firefighters Inc.
The Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division is investigating the fund-raising practices of the organizations.
The investigation, still under way, already has uncovered serious violations of state laws by the organizations.
The Attorney General's office has filed a complaint in Burleigh County District Court and is requesting the court issue an injunction preventing further fund-raising efforts by Public Awareness.
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The complaint states Public Awareness failed to register with the Secretary of State's office as a professional fund-raiser, as required by state law.
Stenehjem's complaint seeks to have contributions returned to consumers and payment of civil penalties of $5,000 per violation.
People that have recently contacted or donated to these organizations are asked to call the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at (800) 472-2600.
