Jan 5, 2012
Call came in at 3:06PM today.
Based on the posts here, DO NOT ANSWER. If you do, don't donate this way.
It SEEMS (I cannot verify this) that this is a telemarketer who is working on behalf of a cancer charity. I donate regularly to many charities, but will not do it over the phone or through mailed solicitations. This is because a vast majority of the money donated goes to the telemarking company and caller. Only a small percentage of the money actually gets to the organization.
If you want to donate to a particular organization, look them up on the internet and find their DONATE NOW button (they all have it!). Then you know that 100% of your donation is going to support the organization you want it to support.
ALWAYS ASK THE NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT IS CALLING (not the charity, but who is making the phone call - particularly if your caller ID does not say the name of the organization! - and ask for the percentage of money which goes to the actual organization. That usually is enough to scare them away because it shows you have a brain and you know how to use it!
Perhaps, we can put a few more telemarketers out of business this way, too! That would NOT be a bad thing!