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WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

WEST VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL: Attorney General Morrisey Announces Multistate Settlement with Organization Claiming to Help Service Members

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West Virginia Attorney General issued the following announcement on Aug. 18.

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey helped reach a multistate settlement shutting down a for-profit company that allegedly misled consumers about its support for military service members.

Hearts 2 Heroes Inc., doing business as Active Duty Support Services Inc., made door-to-door sales of “care packages,” which they would ostensibly send on behalf of patriotic Americans to service members overseas.

The Attorney General alleged the company violated state consumer protection and charitable solicitation laws by misrepresenting the nature of the business, misrepresenting the delivery of care packages purchased and misusing donated funds.

“No company should prey upon the generosity of patriotic West Virginians who want to support our military servicemen and women,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “We stopped this unlawful practice to ensure no consumer is taken advantage of.”

In West Virginia, at least 514 residents gave checks to company representatives. At least 56 checks written to the business had the words “charity,” “contribution” or “donation” noted in the memo section, indicating consumers clearly believed they were donating to a legitimate charity.

The Attorney General alleged the care packages were delivered to military bases in the United States and not overseas as represented, if they were delivered at all.

Hearts 2 Heroes’ staff allegedly misrepresented themselves to consumers as veterans or volunteers. Some staff also allegedly “skimmed” cash donations for personal use.

The multistate settlement requires termination of the business and bans its owners from engaging in charitable solicitations or working for a charitable organization.

West Virginia reached the settlement with Hearts 2 Heroes along with the attorneys general of Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Original source can be found here.

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