Oregon Department of Justice

The Oregon Department of Justice has received several complaints about a deceptive company named "Smartraiser" that is soliciting door-to-door in Washington County under the guise of being a charity that helps veterans. Smartraiser is not a charity.

Similar to door-to-door magazine complaints of last summer in which sales crews suggested that buying magazine subscriptions were charitable donations, Smartraiser is soliciting Oregonians to purchase or "donate" money for care packages for U.S. troops serving overseas. A consumer could easily assume that Smartraiser is a charity, but it is not.

Attorney General John Kroger urges Oregonians to research charities by going to www.oregonattorneygeneral.gov and clicking on the link titled "Check on a Charity." All charities soliciting money in Oregon must be registered with the Oregon Department of Justice Charities Section. Smartraiser is not the only scam charity trying to profit off the illusion of supporting America's service members.

Before paying money to Smartraiser Oregonians should be aware of the following:

• Smartraiser is not a charity helping troops, but a for-profit company
• Smartraiser does not offer financial reports detailing the use of the money it receives
• Unlike a charity, Smartraiser does not disclose what percentage of the money it receives actually goes toward supporting troops and supplying care packages
• Money given to Smartraiser is not tax-deductible
• No government body endorses nor is associated with Smartraiser

Attorney General John Kroger and the Oregon Department of Justice are committed to protecting Oregon's marketplace and helping Oregon consumers. If you or someone you know unwittingly donated to a fake charity please call the Consumer Hotline at 1-877-877-9392 for assistance.

• Statement by Keith Dubanevich (mp3)