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Florida Fines, Closes Charity Scams

January 25, 2006
Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist today announced a settlement resolving allegations that two Broward County organizations targeted senior citizens in a charitable donations scheme.

Global Mindlink Foundation and Select International Donors Corp. will pay up to $300,000 for consumer restitution. The agreement also requires the companies to dissolve.

Investigators with the Attorney General's Economic Crimes Division determined that the two organizations were Florida non-profit corporations owned and operated by Denise Battista of Coral Springs.

Battista managed a staff of telemarketers who allegedly solicited memberships and newsletter subscriptions from elderly consumers nationwide. The consumers were told that the proceeds from their purchases would be used for charitable and humanitarian purposes. Consumers who agreed to purchase subscriptions or memberships supposedly would be eligible to participate in monthly drawings for cash prizes.

"Floridians shouldn't have to worry about being scammed when they are trying to do a charitable deed," said Crist. "This settlement will reinforce the message that we will protect our citizens, especially those who may be preyed upon simply because they are older."

Consumer complaints indicated that Global and Select debited money from victims' checking accounts without their prior consent or knowledge. The charitable facade of these entities was allegedly created to take advantage of the generous nature of their elderly victims, but the majority of the solicited money going toward corporate salaries and administrative expenses.

The settlement prohibits the two companies and Battista from engaging in any type of commercial telephone solicitations. It also blocks them from seeking a telemarketing license in the future or from participating in charitable fund-raising activities.

The restitution will be made to consumers who have filed complaints with the Attorney General's Office, as well as Florida consumers identified in the companies' business records as victims who paid money to the companies and consumers who file a complaint with the Attorney General's Office within 30 days of the date of the agreement. Any remaining money will cover the State's costs of investigation and litigation.

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