Charities That Turned Out to be Massive Scams

[@brainblaze6526]

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[@Sh4dowgale]

No.

[@amandam8609]

Please like a comment that names the sponsor you were talking about, we won’t tattle

[@rjswas]

@@amandam8609 Omaze

[@That.Guy.]

BLM

[@daviddoyle982]

2:57 “Conmen” comes from the idea these people are very confident, as they are so when committing the crime. You don’t need to be smart to be confident… 😅 😉

[@lilpaws9555]

So just a clarification not all make a wish kids are terminally ill. I was a make a wish kid who survived my illness and I’ve had a lot of people assume that I took advantage because I didn’t die. Some of us live. Don’t make children feel guilty for surviving

[@seantlewis376]

First off, thanks for being here. I never thought Make a Wish was only for terminally ill children. I always thought its purpose was to give a bit of joy and encouragement to sick children who were living a miserable life.

[@PhilLesh69]

I'm leery of any 'charity' that does direct response infomercials. Shriners, Wounded Warrior, that one for pet shelters that uses sad puppies with Sarah MchLachlan music playing over it, etc. You can argue that those methods make big bank for the charities and I'd argue right back that you're absolutely right and thanks for making my point for me. It's rent-seeking behavior.

[@Parents_of_Twins]

I'm glad you survived. Don't feel guilty and most people know that the Make a Wish foundation is for children who are very ill.

[@Parents_of_Twins]

@@PhilLesh69 What does surviving have to do with what you are saying? This person has been treated as a scammer for surviving a horrible disease and getting a little joy from Make a Wish what does that have to do with your statements? Seems like you agree that they did something horrible by surviving.

[@CyberData4]

1. You’re not a child. 2. The video isn’t about you.

[@randomramblings2325]

Dave taking money from the collection bucket absolutely brilliant

[@wuzziemaster]

"Nigeria is a federal republic and does not have a monarchy or a prince." That makes the nigerian prince scam so much more interesting.

[@judah7162]

There are a few of them. Not monarchy but tribal. They are usually go out to work in different countries to have some sort of "world experience" or something.

[@wuzziemaster]

@judah7162 I learned something new today .Thanks. :)

[@wingerding]

The more hilarious example is the newer "Nigerian Astronaut Scam". Same idea but the Nigerian is stuck in orbit and needs your Amazon gift cards in order to return to earth and his vast stockpile of space bucks. So unbelievable people fall for this shit.

[@mariabromwich8897]

@@judah7162yeah, I lived in Nigeria as a child and there were heaps of ‘princes’. Didn’t really mean anything and the ones I knew were just regular people with regular jobs🤷‍♀️

[@Ihf_Noted]

Nigeria technically still has monarchies. The British forced many tribes, and kingdoms together to create Nigeria, these tribes still have their royal official families, and titles, but without the power on a national scale. Oba of Benin, Emir of Kano Ooni of Ife. To name a few, and they’re freaking wealthy

[@cuttinaboot]

“What you gonna do ? Come to my house ? Fuck off.” Is the most British thing I remember Simon saying

[@Concetta20]

David’s valid grab of “money for the blind” is absolutely gold. It’s like a real-life comedy sketch.

[@crypticnomad]

I was thinking about starting a nonprofit called the "make Tom happy foundation". My name is Tom and 100% of all donations will go towards making me happy.

[@Abby_Liu]

it'd be more honest than most nonprofits

[@QBCPerdition]

If you're honest about where the money is going, I think you're fine.

[@ToDreamOfJade]

Great idea. Just to make it more efficient, might I suggest you consider calling it "Toms"?

[@JuGrey]

Great ….😂😂😂

[@EagleDancer97]

I'd donate.

[@funtechu]

I love that Simon quite often on this channel randomly sings a John Denver song, but doesn't have any idea who John Denver is.

[@Jamietheroadrunner]

I sing “Take Me Home” all the time thanks to “Kingsman.” Denver’s songs are addictive.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

A stonefish is a bottow-dwelling angler fish that hides on the bottom of shallow bays and inlets. It has extremely toxic venomous spines in its dorsal fin. In fact, it's the most venomous fish known to science. If you step on one, be prepared for hours and hours of excruciating pain, and that's if you're lucky enough to not die.

[@ProbablyNotLegit]

Saw one diving in Mexico, ugly little bastards. Like come on, either camouflage or poison - pick one, not both ffs

[@SakuraKurosaki10]

They’re also extremely good at camouflaging themselves to the point where you could think you’re just touching a rock but nope it’s a stonefish. I saw a picture that had four of them in it once and could only find one.

[@nitehawk86]

Ok, so dont shit these. Thanks.

[@mwills24]

Don’t forget the spines are sharp enough to go through the soles of shoes. They don’t even use the venom to hunt, just to punish anyone that falls for their camouflage 🤦

[@dafttool]

A recent charity scam is big corporations, like fast food restaurants & grocery stores, will ask you to contribute money, but then they use that money as their company’s charitable contribution, thus lowering their taxes. Don’t give to third parties. Give directly to whatever charity you want to help.

[@SuperKendoman]

Yep, supermarkets like Tesco or Asda have been doing it for a while. The US equivalent of Costco and Walmart, if you're not from the UK

[@kanedaku]

Yep. I actually said this (many years ago) to a cashier who asked "are you sure?" when I didnt want to round up my total with a charitable donation. Why would I give *YOU* money, whereas you'll (also) deduct a percentage to cover processing and staff wages collecting the donation? F off.

[@danielgertler5976]

I meaj yeah no corporations would do it for free unfortunately. I would still rather give to their chairty that makes more money than some third party that barely keeps its hair above water.

[@Kanbei11]

It's even worse when you may be able to gift aid a donation if you do it yourself ​@@SuperKendoman

[@semaj_5022]

​@@kanedaku The cashier has nothing to do with it.

[@robertdraper5782]

I had an experience with fake charity collectors in the bikers pub I frequent back in the 90's. One Friday night two women came in with buckets, wearing tee shirts with Cystic Fibrosis Association on them and began shaking the buckets round the bar. The regulars are a mixed bag of hard core bikers, punks, goths and bohemian types who were all pretty generous, I was at the time the Social Worker for the local CF clinic and coordinated with the local CF Trust. I jumped up onto my stool and called them out, they tried to leg it but the manager grabbed the buckets before they got out of the door. They had been at it all evening around the city center and had just short of £700 which went to the CF Trust I didn't have to buy another drink that night or for a few weeks after and it even made the local news.

[@wingerding]

Bikers and Bohemians in the same bar?

[@jennifermarengo]

Thank you!!! My son has CF and more assistance is needed. ❤

[@robertdraper5782]

@@wingerding It's the Swan in Liverpool it's always been a broad church, there's a huge picture of Karl Marx on the wall so it tells you all you need to know.

[@penguin32383]

The lack of punishments for these scammers is ridiculous! Welcome to the USA, where a starving mother who steals $10 worth of food will get more punishment than a CEO who steals $10 million.

[@kyle18934]

yeah, it seems the more popular/powerful a person is, the less rules apply to them

[@ReaganRuinedEverything]

​@@kyle18934 it's also who their targets are, stealing from less privileged people is perfectly fine, I firmly believe that if Bernie Madoff would have *only* scammed lower to middle class people he wouldn't have had such a big sentence, if any sentence at all.

[@stanurena3129]

White collar crime is rarely prosecuted while petty crimes will get you the whole encyclopedia thrown at you

[@asmongold2028]

because if poverty wasnt criminalized that poor ceo might only be able to steal 5 million X D

[@noneneed]

Think of all those people making millions running "non-profit" organizations that are supposedly there to help the homeless!!! Especially in california where the government gives them hundreds of millions of dollars every year and they dont track the money and CAN'T EVEN SAY WHERE OR WHO IT WENT TO!! It's fucking ridiculous.. and the homeless problem will never be solved because WAY TO MANY of these "charities" are ran by the family members and friends of politicians who "donate" money ad a tax write off...

[@kylebritt1225]

I heard of a prominent American that can no longer run a charity in NY State. He still manages to get money sent to him.

[@TitularHeroine]

😂😂

[@victoriaeads6126]

I think I have also heard of that guy. Slightly orange, sleeps a lot when he should be paying attention?

[@ZAV1944]

@@victoriaeads6126 I've heard he can't even control his own bowels, allegedly...

[@wingerding]

​@@ZAV1944 dude stop being bowelist, it's a serious problem for some

[@BrandonDenny-we1rw]

​@@ZAV1944 yeah thats like making fun of a burn victim or something else like that. Biology being different isnt something you joke about. Find literally anything else to make jokes about. The Holocaust is on the table to me over making fun of someones physical ailments.

[@tdyerwestfield]

That intro about sketchy charities was OMAZEing.

[@stephenmonaghan6030]

NO WAY!!!???!!! But they had D list celebrities in their adverts. Oh my, if we can't trust celebrities, who can we trust?

[@quinnishrellik9378]

Wow I had to look them up; I’ve actually never heard of them

[@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley]

The car give away they were doing a few years ago always made me feel suspicious of them. Assuming anyone ever really got a car, I have a feeling it would end up like the Oprah situation where now you're on the hook for thousands of dollars in tax for the item, which most can't afford and so the "gift" is useless. I think Omaze did claim to give the amount of the vehicle in cash instead though, but I'm just not crazy about donating to third parties.

[@moogle68]

@@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley Actually, Omaze used to consistently include thousands of dollars in cash alongside their performance/luxury vehicle prizes, presumably to prevent the exact problem you are describing. I have to agree with Simon about them,btw. It always seemed wayyyy too good to be true that they could offer such expensive (and sometimes particularly _rare_ vehicles that were made in limited quantities _years_ ago), performance/luxury vehicles _and_ thousands in cash to ensure that the winner could afford to own and drive it (at least for a little bit) before having to sell it, regardless of the state of their finances/income at the time.

[@kasahadragon9499]

Not to be confused with Amaze, a group for autism.

[@LightBlueVans]

“he was, at the time, a respected Christian leader” the sighed out, “oh god” was so defeated i cackled

[@Rattrap007]

To me instant red flag. How many times do we hear "prominent member of church" or "good Christian" every time some scumbag is arrested. Never hear member of the church of flying spaghetti monster or Ordained Jedi (other than that one jedi council member denied rank of Master who went on a child killing spree). No mostly christians...

[@Styphon]

​@@Nick-v7b3lJohn Oliver did

[@jensphiliphohmann1876]

Using _this_ to fraud on people is beyond redeemable.

[@itsapittie]

As a general rule, your donations will be better used by local charities. Small, local charities tend to be run by volunteers so more of the money goes to the designated cause. It's also easier to find out where the money goes from a local charity.

[@gumpyoldbugger6944]

Agreed......I donate to our local food bank, hospital and red cross. The food bank does feed those in need, the funds given to the hospital go to either acquiring much need equipment such as MRI machines or expansion of the hospital, ie adding new wings and wards, and the local red cross supplies much need support equipment such as walkers, wheel chairs, toilet seat risers and bars to those who just came of the hospital, the elderly or those that need help but can't afford it, all for free. All are worthy while charities who work within ones local community and you can see the benefits they provide with your own eyes. Plus most have much lower admin costs so the bulk of your donations actually go to the charity work they are doing.

[@stephenmonaghan6030]

Define local. Also, the make up and governance of charities may differ depending upon the country in which you live.

[@itsapittie]

@@stephenmonaghan6030 You're correct, which is why I said "as a general rule."

[@retsaMinnavoiG]

Just don't forget most scam charities are local level not national (which is why you don't hear about them). But you can't really go wrong with local level charity that has been around awhile and has a good reputation, you know it's almost certainly sincerely being put towards a good cause.

[@itsapittie]

@@retsaMinnavoiG Being local doesn't necessarily prove they're not a scam, but it does make it easier to get reliable information about them.

[@bcmoorman]

You should check into the various US Veterans Organizations. I am a disabled veteran who recently needed assistance, and was turned away by every single veterans organization I approached for help.

[@maxbracegirdle9990]

Damn that's fucked. I have a acquaintance whose dad was in Vietnam and he ended up passing down some crazy shit from the agent Orange. He gets fuck all support and it's fucked. Sorry dude, it's a bitch.

[@Dpsnadress]

I'ma paraplegic vet confined to a hospital bed and i point to wounded warrior's.. just because of my situation..

[@JonEffinZoidberg]

Yellow ribbon foundation is one of the worst for $$ raised to how much they give out. Most of the biggest names you know spend more on promotion than they do giving to veterans. Wounded warriors is right up there too

[@rachelwitherspoon4394]

It's just shameful how many "veterans organizations" are just massive cons, using imo the equivalent of stolen valor to make money off of our vets

[@marcbeebee6969]

Thank you both for your service. I am unfortunately to far away in germany otherwise i would try to help out. God bless you both and all other service women and men

[@josh218721]

I had a company that I worked for that ‘required’ a donation to a certain, well known charity out of every paycheck we had. Some people donated $5, some 1% under assumption they would be shunned if they didn’t. Upon research, I found out that, depending on year researched, between 7% - 9% of total donations went to the cause. I promptly set my donation as $0.01 a paycheck.

[@SheldonMurphy-fp4ko]

It's pretty simple, ya want to donate? I'm sure you have a local school or hospital, take 20$, give it to the secretary. Worst case scenario they pocket it but they are already underpaid, maybe they share it around the staff. Maybe they set up a jar for new equipment or John Cena. Homeless shelters too, if ya manage/own a restaurant and throw out a bunch of good food every night, maybe talk to ur local shelter they might even be able to send someone in a car to pick it all up.

[@glennrugar9248]

​When I worked at a convenience store I used to have a guy who would show up at 3 in the morning for the previous days doughnuts to take them to the homeless shelter. It's not hard.@@SheldonMurphy-fp4ko

[@lauren9667]

I had a brother with Downs Syndrome, so I spent a lot of my time volunteering with the Special Olympics. In my 50’s I got a call from a group selling magazines to support the Special Olympics. I asked how much the organization received. Pennies on the dollar. I told him I didn’t need any magazines, but I would make a donation in the amount of subscription directly to the Special Olympics. He got soooo ticked and started arguing how this was better for them. The whole time I was internally laughing my butt off. He eventually relented and hung up. I always check with the WV Secretary of State’s website and other charity checkers to determine the percentage of a donation goes to programs and run away from or chew out those charities that spend more money on salaries and admin than to the people who need help. People suck sometimes.

[@kyle18934]

​@SheldonMurphy-fp4ko the problem with doing the food thing is people can sue the company for food poisoning even if it didn't happen. I remember hearing an article about a company that would give food to a shelter. they got sued, and stopped giving food. very sad

[@elif6908]

@@kyle18934There are many videos about donations to homeless people or food banks are under Good Samaritan act therefore they’ve never been under threat of a legal case. Adam Conover and iirc John Oliver has videos on homeless shelters and food banks, you may want to watch those. (Also I never found a case where the shelter/food bank sued a donor, if you find such case or the article you remember I would be interested to know more)

[@ignitionfrn2223]

4:40 - Mid roll ads 6:00 - Back to the video 6:10 - Chapter 1 - Diamond jym ranch 9:05 - Chapter 2 - The foundation for new era philanthropy 12:30 - Chapter 3 - Kid wish network 17:25 - Chapter 4 - The cancer fund of america

[@gsam3]

Thanks

[@BrandonDenny-we1rw]

Chapter 5: The Open Hand Foundation

[@pseudotasuki]

The guy collecting donations in the pub is a conman. That sort of charity scam would be considered a "short" con. When you're thinking of would be "long" cons.

[@Mandrake42]

Yeah exactly. A con doesn't need to be this big complicated thing. He has seen to many movies. Its basically lying about something to get money. You do that, you are conning someone.

[@wingerding]

​@@Mandrake42 inspiring confidence in someone or a group in order to exploit something desirable to the confidence person. Not necessarily money.

[@rjswas]

Also the term used for them when they go to prison 🤣

[@MakerInMotion]

I encountered a really bad one. The guy said he was prospecting for a biker gang by collecting charity donations. The way you actually earn membership in a biker gang is...very different. He didn't get a dime.

[@aigtbootbp]

In the news lately the woman in charge of a particular charity used the money to buy herself multiple houses. The most disgusting part is when caught they show no shame and try to justify their theft by screaming on how much they deserve it all.

[@robertlitman2661]

You’re talking about BLM.

[@OdyTypeR]

4:34 - Nice work, Sam. This insert was omazing.

[@aprosper]

That when I knew it was Sam

[@eliscanfield3913]

Good for you, Dave! One time my guy & I were walking downtown when we walked by 2 guys on a corner. One started to ask us for money, but his friend hissed "He's blind!" and the first dude never finished the ask. Ookay, then, lol. We won't argue with panhandlers who don't want to ask a fully employed blindie for money. (Not that we had cash anyway. We rarely do)

[@wingerding]

The disabled do often have much higher expenses. Or they're scammers with morals.

[@seantlewis376]

I had a friend who was very generous in his charitable donations, and also very careful. Before donating, he would spend some time to go over the charity's IRS filings to see what they pay in administrative overhead, fundraising efforts, and outside consulting fees. After his passing, his family asked that in lieu of flowers or anything like that, people adopt and donate to one of his favorite causes. My plans are pretty much the same.

[@Lymsley]

Skirting naming the sketchy ‘charity’ was OMAZE-ing.

[@CaptainMarvelsSon]

Where I grew up, we had a drive-up alcohol store. You drove up, told them what you wanted, and drove off. The guy I remember best working there was 19 and age didn't matter ot him. How the place has managed to stay open for decades surprises me.

[@dafttool]

There used to be a liquor store like that in my hometown while growing up. In fact, my slightly older next door neighbor took me there one day to help me get some alcohol for prom.

[@Estolcles]

"From the chance for a dying kid to meet John Cena." Ya know, for anything anyone could say bad about him, one thing that's undeniable is that Cena is awesome in that respect. Current record holder of M-A-W Kids seen, and has no plans on stopping. That's some good stuff right there.

[@UnicornsPoopRainbows]

Cena is amazing and I really hope he is as awesome as he seems. I love that he also made it his mission to meet the autistic person whose parent told him they were going to meet John Cena to get him to flee from his home in Ukraine. Cena found out (or his people) and he made it a reality ❤

[@Estolcles]

@@UnicornsPoopRainbows I didn't even know about that. THAT is f'ing cool right there.

[@ericthompson3982]

I'm not a wrestling fan (in part because I wrestled in high school and college, and it's a little like being a film-maker watching a movie that you can only spot the flaws in, though I do genuinely admire the athleticism), but pro wrestlers seem like they are almost universally genuinely cool people. Cena in particular. Bautista seems like another really good apple. That's really just scratching the surface. I am routinely impressed with just how genuinely smart and nice all of those people seem to be.

[@retsaMinnavoiG]

@@ericthompson3982 my guess is that the crappy ones don't get very far and nobody wants to work with them especially after wrestling...

[@ericthompson3982]

@@retsaMinnavoiG Fair point. That is a hard job, and I don't imagine any of them want to work with jerks.

[@Mike-yt4jq]

What I find disheartening is what these charitable organizations tend to pay their top employees. When I research a charity, even if their stats are good and they possess an "a" rating.... the top dogs in the organization are still absorbing very very high incomes from the charity itself. I find it rather disgusting to be honest.

[@StreakyBaconMan]

I mean it all depends - charities do have to hire employees because you can't just hope that people of all the professions required to keep things functioning will just volunteer to do it for free because it's a charity. If a charity needed for example a good accountant to help them manage their funds then I don't mind if they have a well paid accountant on the books. That being said, there are a lot of charities where they have their friends and families fill all the high level positions and then pay them well over what they deserve for whatever work they are putting in, and that is disgusting and should be a crime if you ask me.

[@Jessepigman69]

A good choice is to donate to a charity that piggiebacks off a business. The Ronald Mcdonald Foundation and the costa foundation are 2 in the uk that I know of that 100% of donated money goes to the cause as all employees are paid through standard wages and salaries instead of through the donations

[@elif6908]

Organisations need a certain amount of money to function. If a charity rely on volunteers too much you risk to get your workers just from a certain class of people that can afford to do volunteer work. This causes the groundworkers of the charity prejudiced towards the people that need the help on the long run. I agree with you that charities that pay their C suits (CEO, CFO etc) ridiculous amounts of money are indefensible but it’s wrong to cross out charities just because they have overheard costs.

[@JimTheFly]

@@Jessepigman69 One of the charities that I've always liked is The V Foundation as well. ESPN backs it and runs the logistical side of things so the donations can be used for cancer research.

[@drfarrin]

So I'm in a unique position to expand on this with some context. Background is I have a masters in nonprofit management. The pay the top people receive isn't always what it seems. FIRST: Look at who is running it. If it's run by a heavily connected political person and that person is the founder AND receiving a lot of pay, then you need to do a LOT of research on that org to see if they're actually doing what they say or they're just pocketing the cash. That said, a high paid CEO isn't always a BAD thing. Non-Profit Orgs (NPOs) can't compete financially against for profit companies, even the biggest ones on earth can't compete against the Fortune 100 list. But they still need skilled leadership. The board of directors of a large nonprofit is often not the operating staff, they're wealthy people who either care about the subject and want to support it OR are wanting to gain prestige. The board treasurer can be the owner of one of the biggest accounting firms in the world, but he/she isn't sitting there filing the NPOs taxes. The CEO in an NPO is paid the flat cash sum you see reported on the 990 form (if you're american). Their for-profit counterparts are paid a modest cash salary, but their REAL income is the dividends on the stock they own in the company. So while the CEO of (for example) AT&T may be paid $1.5 million a year, the stock they're given (valued at 50 million) is paying them $15-20mil a year on top of that. No NPO can pay dividends like that, that's illegal since NPOs aren't owned, they're administered by the community (whatever that community is). I remember a HUGE scandal about the CEO of a medical foundation getting something like $700k/yr and people were livid and I was laughing because this was an international NPO granting TENS OF MILLIONS in research money every year for the cause and this CEO had worked hard to get more mega donors and expand their footprint than their predecessor then they had to apologize for being compensated fairly when there were for-profit companies looking to poach this person for their connections. IT IS NOT A CRIME TO BE PAID. It really isn't. An NPO wants a grant for a project, you HIRE a grant writer. Those things are insanely difficult to write because government grants require an INCREDIBLE amount of documentation to obtain and retain. A person who has legal liability for the operation of the organization deserves to be paid. A person who makes it their job to do a service to the community deserves to be paid. When the Red Cross shows up, ford doesn't just give them a bunch of trucks and says "go save some lives" and medline doesn't hand them supplies and say "here you go, doc, go bandage up some people!". Those companies will sell at a discount, but they still require purchases and the people who store those vehicles and maintain them and the medical equipment year round need to put food on their table, too. What's the point in doing a full-time job's worth of work for a place that pays you poverty rates. That red cross doctor will pack up and head to the nearest private practice for work because food is food and pay is pay. It SUCKS when you look behind the curtains and realize that cash is really all the orgs need. There's this wholesome notion that I just show up and volunteer to work and "good" happens. Unfortunately, cash really is it. If I run children's theater, the power company doesn't care about kids smiling, they want their money for the electricity. If I run a mobile soup kitchen, the health inspector doesn't care that I'm trying real hard, they care that I keep up the cost of the 3rd party audits of our health/safety paperwork. Cash keeps good, experienced administrators working at that NPO and keeping it successful. Cash keeps the rent paid. Cash keeps the lights on.

[@aliasalias8681]

Simon‘s disbelief that these people basically just get away with this stuff is adorable. Fraud is only illegal if you defraud the rich and or powerful. Stealing from the poor is highly encouraged. Rewarded even.

[@beagleissleeping5359]

Fast food worker: "Would you like to donate to a charity that I have no personal stock in and my franchise owner boss is contractually obligated to collect for?" Customer: Goes on 5 minute rant about how it's all a scam and how the worker is just trying to steal their money and the corruption of the US government in general. Fast food worker: So, that's a no on the donation then?

[@SiiriCressey]

Complaining to the wrong person in a nutshell.

[@mwills24]

I hate when people do that. Yes, third party collections are generally used as the cooperations donation to lower the corporations taxes, but what is flipping out on a cashier just doing their job going to change? There are a few places that do this then match the initial donations rather than using them for tax breaks, but those tend to be local businesses and charities.

[@oldfrittenfett1276]

When I was 14, we knew the gas stations and kiosks where they did not care. And in discos, well, they let us in so they assumed we were old enough so nobody cared either. When I was 16, in pubs and discos everything was fine. Tequila was usually one Deutschmark. It was fun to be a 90s kid in Germany.

[@RangerHouston]

The Red Cross raised 500 million dollars for Haiti in 2015. To this date they have built 6 homes.

[@lukerinderknecht2982]

Ehhh, that's a simplistic and somewhat misleading description of what happened.

[@retsaMinnavoiG]

@@lukerinderknecht2982 exactly! Due to inflation, costs of material, transport costs etc. etc. They were just six very expensive houses that couldn't be avoided.

[@RangerHouston]

@@lukerinderknecht2982 they did the same exact thing in Haiti so…

[@tonykeltsflorida]

It is sad that the people that need help are the ones that never get any help.

[@jasperjones6857]

John Denver was a famous singer and song writer starting in the late 60's. He wrote the Peter Paul & Mary hit Leavin' on a Jet Plane. Other big hits include Rocky Mountain High, Sunshine on my Shoulders, Take Me Home, Country Roads, Thank God, I'm a Country Boy. He released about 300 songs and and was one of biggest singing stars in the 1970's. He released about 25 albums and won two Grammy awards. You don't seem to be a country boy, certainly not a Rocky Mountain one, so that may be how you missed him.

[@GrouchierBear]

If I remember correctly, three cents of every dollar taken in is the absolute legal minimum an organization can donate and still legally call itself a charity in the United States. That's why a lot of these dodgy charities can keep functioning without being shut down. (It's also why you shouldn't take corporate "A portion of every purchase goes to X" slogans at face value. Often that portion is the legal minimum) Bonus shady behavior, one shady charity can donate three percent of their take to another shady charity (which the organizers of the first charity may also have a stake in) and the second charity can in turn only donate three percent of THAT. I don't know how far they can take that before coming up against some sort of law.

[@retsaMinnavoiG]

That's ridiculous. I get it, to be long-term, large scale and widely effective you have to use some of the donations to fund the operation and you have to take into account blunders or charities that are very expensive to run but do lots of good... BUT 3% is so low as to be pointless and essentially be nothing. Legally the minimum should be about 30% (and being that low should be for unique circumstances). It should be going directly towards recipients or directly towards getting it to recipients (paying for a plane, storage area or fuel as opposed to paying for an accountant or wages - that's what that 70% leeway is for). Honestly, at that point the government should just setup a charity website (with many options for what it goes toward) that you donate to and a guarantee that 90% or something will be used specifically and directly for what you selected.

[@geoffreypiltz271]

There should be laws such that charities must spend a minimum percentage of their income on their stated aims, say 75%, if they don't they should be deregistered. There should also be maximum salaries set for charity employees.

[@paulherman5822]

There goes United Way, then. Like the Kardashian auction for charity that only gave 10%...

[@wingerding]

It's obviously different but most campaign donations are like this.

[@mahumia]

Depends on the country. Iirc it is 70% for charities in the Netherlands, and obligatory yearly publication of how much money comes in and how it is spent.

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

The maximum salary rule is in place in France. It has an unintended consequence that some French charities end up being largely staffed by 21-25 year old children of bourgeois parents who can afford to spend a few years putting charity work on their CV before going to work for daddy’s merchant bank. If that’s not bad enough these inexperienced people are expected to go and run complicated projects in developing countries… Remember, if you pay peanuts you get monkeys. I’ll agree with you though when there are charity CEO on 7-figure salaries…

[@briant7265]

​@bob_the_bomb4508 I'd also bet there isn't a charity of any size in France either.

[@timcarder2170]

Standard rule of thumb to go by..... if they're asking for money for their charity online...anywhere (not just via email)... just *assume it's a scam* and ignore/report/block it.

[@fathertimegaming17]

I will always applaud your integrity with your sponsors. It's a rare thing these days. Kudos!

[@andiward7068]

I've never doubted he enjoys the sponsored products until AG-1. Tbs, no one enjoys the experience of drinking green glop so no harm, no foul, imo. Vessies doesn't pay him nearly enough.

[@Pegfoxx]

That meme of Big Bird breaking into a house is scary as hell. If a guy came into my house I would try & fight him off, but if Big Bird broke into my house I would just bloody run!!! LMAO.

[@ChineseKiwi]

Here, Big Bird, here’s my money and my bling, just don’t hurt me!!!

[@iMark256]

Between his “posh” accent (I’m not British), and his seemingly square personality, when he hints at going to the pub whilst underage at the start of the video, I instantly picture him to be Neil in that scene at the bar in inbetweeners season 1

[@Daminite]

I love it. A video about scams sponsored by a service that can be used to make scams look more legit.

[@Snowbum90]

When I was nine, I had a lemonade stand that I claimed was for an animal charity, and somehow it made its way to my piggy bank. Yikes.. I guess I might be a terrible person Allegedly

[@jennifermarengo]

As a former animal shelter employee, I would like to say, that we appreciate all donations, including treats for the workers. Stop by anytime. 😊

[@nozomikurai952]

My wife took over a registered disability charity as its volunteer president. She found out that the director was embezzling funds, to buy herself a beach house and vehicle. If my wife attempted to take this to the police, previous presidents would be held accountable, which wouldn't help as they had the same disability as who the charity was supposed to help. It took a few years, but reaching out to the IRS, to look for irregularities in the director's cash flow, things aren't looking good for the crooked director.

[@Benihime25]

Wait why would previous presidents get in trouble? Could she give evidence that the corrupt president was committing embezzlement but there was no evidence for anyone else?

[@danielgreen1124]

I'm a terminal cancer patient. The only charities i trust on that issue are the ones my doctors have recommended to help me. Do your research people.

[@jennifermarengo]

No kidding! As a stage lll breast cancer survivor, I received two donated wigs, some scarves and donated make-up. I reached out for help from the American Cancer Society and they sent me a cook book. That was it. WTF?! @danielgreen1124 I wish you all the best with your treatments. When life isn’t fun, I like to watch comedies. ❤

[@alanhilder1883]

Monty Python did a tribute to John Denver, He sued them so they had to remove the song from their album. The one that went to jail had scammed rich people, the other only got from "the lesser people".

[@marieseaman7855]

Here in Japan there was a charity scam that has seemingly stopped due to when the boarders closed for covid. Basically south east Asian women, usually from The Philippines, would be outside stations asking for donations for a charity for kids. However they were outside even at like 10pm, which was very very odd. They also got very dodgey if you asked questions about the charity and to see some information about it

[@tdyerwestfield]

Captain Tom Moore springs to mind, raising money in 2020, which he received a knighthood for, for a grossly & deliberately under-funded not-for-profit healthcare organisation which is *not* a charity, to which the family somehow found up to £1m to illegally build a spa in their back yard (not alleged, it's been through the courts and since resulted in the forced demolition of the building) and take £400k for "admin", allegedly.

[@ivynyx1834]

What, the Moore family took the money?

[@wingerding]

Why on earth would they demolish the building, what lunacy, auction that shit off or turn it into low income units. Such a waste.

[@honeybadger6493]

​@@ivynyx1834after Sir Captain Tom's death his daughter and son in law set up a charity with several dodgy links to companies they owned

[@AvoidTheCadaver]

@@wingerding According to the news, the building was on private land (Captain Moore's) but was at odds with the heritage listed family home and thus was ordered to be removed. Also, the building was expanded without authorisation. The daughter had approval to build a "community centre for treatment of the elderly" but instead had it expanded to be an office and luxury spa for their personal use. Locals said the building looked like a prison.

[@gurrrn1102]

That whole story looked shady as hell. Even the centenarian murder instructor doing garden walks for “donations to the nhs”

[@daleyjeeper6188]

Make a wish is great. Did a report on them that over 70% of money donated goes directly to granting the wishes

[@TWile-vk8ju]

Yo! Guys, please do not taunt the nutjobs who email crazy stuff. They don't even know what they're capable of, you can't imagine. We love your content, please remain safe, healthy, and happy so that it and you will continue to be a blessing

[@edenrose1224]

Charity navigator is the best! Always check them to make ur money help as many as possible! There's so much need in the world, n so many good causes- helping starving families, very poor, sick people, and abused animals. But ur money could very well be wasted if you don't find a charity with a good financial history. Some charities will also multiply ur money by putting it towards something that multiplies good, such as animals that reproduce and easily live off scrub n scraps, a well that will keep giving water for years, etc.

[@pugz3230]

We need to stop calling him "fact boy" and start calling him "alleged fact boy"

[@danidavis7912]

With the "fact checkers" he uses, you should drop the word "fact" from any description of him.

[@belialbathory2299]

Allegedly boy 😅

[@retsaMinnavoiG]

@@danidavis7912 that you Putin?

[@danidavis7912]

@@retsaMinnavoiG What does that even mean?

[@retsaMinnavoiG]

@@danidavis7912 he's one of the best sources of factual, legitimate and unbiased news and information we have and you seem to be calling out him out. Sure, occasionally they have errors but that is perfectly normal and human. I was sure you were implying that his facts can't be trusted - and I assume that's because you don't like his facts rather than the odd occasion he gets his facts wrong (like mislabelling an aircraft or city compared to describing the Russian army or Putin in a bad light).

[@davidgeiser4636]

Man I live about 2 1/2 hours south of NYC in Delaware and after 9/11 real firemen were on the roads holding a boot collecting for the victims, not even 2 weeks later scammers were on street corners holding signs and holding a boot (like a hiking boot with no resemblance to a fireman's boot) trying to do the same....that was pathetic!

[@katsmeow6946]

I worked at the bar when I was 14, in the kitchen. Within six months I was having a drink after work with everyone else.

[@wingerding]

So dangerous for the owner

[@Abby_Liu]

in Australia if authorities found that out the whole business' license would get suspended. no work for you or anyone else

[@lauren9667]

Dave, you are a legend!

[@devilsadvocate3364]

Bring more Red vs. Blue memes, Sam! I love 'em! 🎉

[@kaleighleiva8317]

RIP RvB and Rooster Teeth ❤️💙

[@CinHotlanta]

In the US being an influential person goes a long way with the judicial system, so even if you committed 120 million dollars worth of fraud, the chances of getting a finger wag and a "don't be naughty again" are still very good. Yes, even when you are influential because of the clout afforded by all that money you got away with. You just have to make sure you don't defraud the government, because then you're going to big-boy prison.

[@XYGamingRemedyG]

"what're you gonna do, come to my house?" I'm just trying to reach you about your car's extended warranty. 😢

[@vicegod1]

We joke that my ex brother in law is now dating a Nigerian princess. He's never met her in person, not phone calls, only communicate through text and email. She asks for a lot of gift cards though and he'll get them and send her the codes. Refuses to listen to anyone that's it's obviously a scam because we all must be jealous.

[@tophers3756]

Last time I was this early Simon was clean-shaven and had hair.

[@scaredscorpion]

He's just upside down now

[@jeremymcdonald7974]

Since when did he do videos with hair? Or is that just part of the joke? 😅

[@marieseaman7855]

Not sure if he's ever had hair in videos but definitely remember a scrawny little beardless Simon

[@robinderoos1166]

​@@scaredscorpionindeed, down with the syndroms

[@DoucheBag8008]

He is taking squarespace money again hasnt fixed his website yet just saying

[@Mckjku16]

I have no doubt that square space sponsor placement was comedically placed where it was in the video. 😂

[@campingwithruffles]

if you ever do a video on good charities be sure to mention furry conventions like Anthrocon. they usually use the price of admission to cover there own expenses, and most if not all money donated goes to what ever animal shelter they're helping

[@khironkinney1667]

This subject is one of the reasons Death to Smoochy is one of my favorite movies. One of the finest dark comedies I always felt it was very underrated, and so many great actors Edward Norton. Robin Williams Performance is absolutely devastating. Especially after his passing that tortured soul that is Rainbow Randall, it comes from a very real raw place

[@PhilLesh69]

Kars for kids. It's a dude in Brooklyn who flips junker cars from people who figure the car isn't worth more than a tax write off. He certainly donates something from his profits to children related charity I'm sure. I mean, he's getting all these cars for free and he doesn't pay taxes. Wounded warrior project. It probably started with well enough intentions. But at some point the people running it became comfortable with the lavish lifestyle running a large tax exempt organization can support. That became their focus, not the wounded veterans. They leaped head first into the galas, charitable balls and golf tournament endorsement level of fund raising, in addition to the direct response television commercials. Like that pillow guy.

[@wingerding]

Done ethically those galas and tournaments can make absolute bank for a charity. The yearly golf tourney is easily the biggest provider of funds to the treatment center I work for. The executives don't make any money, they pay the 1000$ a ticket also.

[@ShawnLuke]

I think the people that were running the Wounded Warrior and got caught up in the lifestyle got fired and they hired people that regained focus. That was awhile ago- not sure if they kept their way.

[@PhilLesh69]

@@ShawnLuke If they still do direct response ads, they are still rent-seeking.

[@MrJontte79]

Dave's anecdotes are the best! I'd *love* a BB episode dedicated to his escapades! 😅

[@kevinmorgan2968]

“It’s just a stealing” maybe my favorite Simonism so far

[@AxiomTheory]

1:00 I used to get served alcohol in pubs at 15 and onwards. i always looked older though was over around 6ft with a full beard at 15 😂 though there has always been a policy at the clubs i frequented in southend you needed ID to get in, so i do have a fake ID #McLovin special that i bought for about £20 off the Internet laying about somewhere. I used to get away with it but in hindsight it was green but nothing like a drivers license and i have never seen any form of ID that even looks close to it. 😅

[@xenogorwraithblade2538]

Nutty to think John Cena watches this guy too. Shame we'll never see his comments, though.

[@MAGGOT_VOMIT]

John Cena replies to Simon in Margarine......err......Mandolin or whatever.

[@nelsondawson9706]

Mandarin chinese

[@MAGGOT_VOMIT]

@@nelsondawson9706 SPANK YOU HELPY HELPER!!

[@kakaz98]

Kinda love that John Cena follows Factboi on the platform formally known as Twitter.

[@edenrose1224]

John Denver has some amazing songs! He's got a lot of great music about the amazing beauty of scenic places in the US, and the wonder of nature- which is rare. His music is very soothing, happy, and clean. It's often a breath of fresh air. Some of his songs you might know are "Rocky Mountain High", n "Country Roads".

[@airbear8240]

Hey I felt the need come on here and call Dave out for dissing John Denver 😂. I love his music

[@josephcooter5763]

I take it that Simon is Not a Country Boy. Although I have to admit that this Video some times comes across as a funny, funny riddle.

[@Dragonmaster0118]

As a survivor that last entery infuriates me beyond belief.

[@browninplay]

After years now, of watching this show (and many others from the Whistle-verse), I'd love to have a good social drink with Dave :)

[@ETC_Rohaly_USCG]

6:03 John Denver passed in an Airplane crash; (of the same design my father built, a Rutan 'Long-EZ') but my Father spent over 10 years building it, and knew it intimately. John had only a couple hours in the cockpit upon his accident.

[@ETC_Rohaly_USCG]

"Country Roads" is one of his more famous songs/covers

[@milksheihk]

4:33 I think I know that sponsor, the one that runs raffles, initially allowed international entries but started barring certain countries pretty early.

[@darthsavage4025]

Your "not-a-call-out" call-out was omazing I mean Amazing!

[@caitlinsnowfrost8244]

Speaking as a Catholic who somehow loves these videos anyway (I try to ignore the disparaging remarks), the guy who tracked Dave's personal e-mail down just to send him hate mail needs to go to confession.

[@HAWAIIKY808]

Mahalos for another great video

[@davidbennettracing538]

World Vision. A friend of mines mum used to be high up at WV management, and one year their AGM was at a five star resort in Thailand. I also remember one year, they set up a pop up begging station, complete with two massive OLED TVs. I pointed out to the stunned girl that I would only consider giving to them, when they sold the TVs and spent that money on the kids themselves.

[@wingerding]

Sounds dope af

[@TheBudgetTechnician]

Simon, I just gotta say before I even watch that I love your videos, and your tangents remind me of myself, I just can't do this because I get tongue tied about a thousand times worse than anyone else I know when I read allowed (thanks dyslexia) Oh look, I'm starting on a tangent myself 😂🤣

[@elizabethadracul120]

Hi Simon love your videos, they are always the first ones I click on if I need a laugh or voice in the background as I'm working. I was just listening to this video when you said what you going to do come to my home f off, straight after you saying that a dominos advert came on selling a home delivery pizza, and I thought we'll yes they probably would. 😂

[@williamwilkins8037]

Woo! I've been a member for 5 months now 😁 (Just found out you can see how long you have been a member lol) Keep up the great work everyone!

[@mitchellseibel2859]

Yeah, that’s what makes you European lucky over here in the states. It’s taken very seriously if someone finds out you sold alcohol to a minor and if you sell alcohol, and even if you accidentally sell to a minor with a fake ID, you could lose your liquor license and ability to legally sell alcohol ever again, so people don’t take the chance over here.

[@dafttool]

My ex used to do telemarketer work for a fake charity that was lightbulbs for veterans. ?🙄 He quit after a short while, but basically only pennies went to veterans & the rest went to his boss.

[@AxiomTheory]

9:44 Goooood morning madame 😂

[@gumpyoldbugger6944]

Sometimes Wikipeda is usefull Simon. Stonefish: Synanceia is a genus of ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Synanceiinae, the stonefish, which is classified within the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfish and relatives. Stonefish are the most venomous fish known; stings can be fatal to humans. They are found in the coastal regions of the Indo-Pacific. Word of advise mate, looks like Dave has a wee bit of a homicidal bent to him, best not be late with his pay cheques......and give him the premium space in the writters dungeon/basement. 🤣

[@SheldonMurphy-fp4ko]

Oh sometime recently I heard of a Nigerian house being raided and millions in US cash found, not sure if it's true but either yeah someone's falling for the scam OR there really was a prince trying to get help. Not entirely sure which but Nigeria has also never had a King sooo.

[@JuGrey]

I still recall scammers coming to my neighborhood collecting money for veterans….they only took cash and had nothing with their names. Several in my neighborhood still gave money….i called 😢charity they were collecting for who knew nothing about them… by this time they had cash and had left….

[@xRoeJogan]

I feel like Simon has been receiving some cease and desist letters recently - hitting the “allegedly” real hard on this one. 😂

[@joshmiller7777]

As a fellow person from Portsmouth, the Victory is a pretty standard pub here lol, sticky floors. Nice work as per Dave :)

[@goosenotmaverick1156]

I can be in Branson, Mo in about an hour and a half from my house, and I hadn't heard of that one lol

[@Chris.Pontius]

Points to the person that can point out the shady sponsor. Allegedly.

[@logecat]

please. i want to know what it is

[@pablocardona9804]

Factboy community, come through with this fact.

[@jaylee9552]

Only one I can think of was that Lordship one that claimed it would donate a percent of the cost to helping trees lol

[@aurthurpendragon1015]

@@jaylee9552 The first thing I thought of was Better Help, mainly because lots of people have made videos "exposing" them over the pat few months, although I haven't watched any of them.

[@itsjustafad]

The galaxy lamps one didn’t pay factboi, I know that much.

[@brackencloud]

Ive been getting SO many KZbin ads for charities. especially war related ones. And, i just know that most/all of scams

[@lukemiller_6]

Dave talking about Portsmouth where I'm at uni 😂 so funny!!

[@sophierobinson2738]

Dave, allegedly, has no taste, allegedly, in music. Or else he allegedly didn’t smoke enough to enjoy John Denver.

[@BitterBatter]

I've never listened to John Denver, but if there's one thing I trust a blind man on, it's his listening skills 😂

[@Elish-a]

Lon Chaney was the man of 1000 faces and Simon Whistler is the man of 1000 channels 😅! Seriously, I keep finding more and more channels presented by Simon. How many are there and does this man ever sleep?

[@KwazyKats]

The amount of sketchy charities and sponsors is horrifying 😅 especially since there are so many KZbin channels that promote said *alleged* scams.

[@maxwirt921]

I would’ve made Garret give back 2x the amount he stole. $82k to pay the people back, 82k for charity.

[@markdollery2325]

The Victory Pub in Pompey, I remember it well!