Oregon Department of Justice

Attorney General Hardy Myers today announced the filing of an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with two Florida charities that collected over $84,000 in donations from 54 Oregon seniors. The State alleged that Global Mindlink Foundation and Select International Donors Corporation sold "memberships" for $50 to $600 with promises of valuable coupons, free film and sweepstakes entries while claiming that proceeds would help provide computers for the disabled.

"Oregon will not tolerate the victimization of our seniors by unscrupulous telemarketers," Myers said. "Seniors and their caregivers must be vigilant in guarding against such scams in the future."

An investigation by the Department of Justice Charitable Activities Section revealed that the average age of Oregonians targeted by these organizations was 80, with the oldest known local victim a 99-year-old Gresham woman. Telemarketers sold annual memberships, and then called back as often as monthly to renew them. In two representative cases, a Vale man contributed over $3,300 and an Elmira woman wrote checks for over $1,600, each over a period of several months.

The Assurance of Voluntary Compliance requires the two organizations to make complete restitution to Oregon victims, the first $10,000 of which was received last week. Additionally, the organizations have agreed to withdraw their Oregon registration and refrain from future solicitations here.

Attorney General Myers reminds Oregonians to verify the legitimacy of all charities requesting contributions, especially those that use telemarketers. Extensive information is available on the Department's web site at www.doj.state.or.us or by contacting the Charitable Activities Section at (503) 229-5725.