SwiftVets.com

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ATTENTION ---EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
>
> Notify your members that there is a FAKE so-called Veterans Organization
> operating out of Beech Grove, Indiana that has a primary goal of
> soliciting
> money through telephone calls with the spiel they are giving telephone
> cards
> to our military men and women.
>
> This outfit calls itself INDIANA VETERANS RELIEF FUND They are using a
> storefront address at 157 Bethel, Suite B, Beech Grove, IN 46107.
> Telephone
> (***) 783-1974.
>
> Indiana Veterans Relief Fund is operating under a blanket organization
> called Common Ground Charities, Inc. A Michael Q. Risley, Jr. is listed as
> Director of Fund Raising and a Tanya Risley is shown to be the Office
> Manager.
>
> I visited the location and talked with Ms. Risley. The rented office space
> is essentially a telephone Boiler Room. I viewed about a half-dozen people
> sitting at small work areas facing three walls wearing headphones and
> mikes
> making telephone calls. The front office room and rear telephone room are
> unkempt and dirty with no trappings of a veterans organization. No Flags,
> no
> wall pictures, no sign of any patriotism. I confronted Ms. Risley with
> some
> pointed questions. How many telephone calling cards have been issued to
> American troops? (She said they gave some to departing troops at Camp
> Atterbury but couldn't tell me when or how many.) How much money has been
> solicited since this operating began last year? (She told me the figures
> have not been compiled and are not available.)
>
> Ms. Risley informed me they are legal. I told her there is a difference of
> being legal on paper and morally correct in practice! (I am convinced this
> outfit is only interested in lining their own pockets with cash from proud
> Americans whom think they're helping our military and our men and woman in
> uniform.)
>
> The Indiana Consumer Protection section of the Attorney Generals Office
> appears to be not interested in this situation after talking with them at
> length. IF WE CAN'T SHUT THIS OUTFIT DOWN WE CAN AT LEAST GET THE WORD
> OUT:
>
> VETERANS & CONSUMERS BEWARE!
>
> Donald F. Myers, USMC Retired
> Department of Indiana, Marine Corps League Director of Public Relations
>