Is this a scam organization?

About two months ago at the Walmart Super Store here in my hometown that group was set up out front soliciting money, with store permission.

I had heard of them before and had seen the link provided by the Col.

I immediately returned home, printed out the info from the link, went back to the store, got hold of the store manager, gave him the printout and in less than 10 minutes they were escorted from the property.

BZ's were handed out to that store manager by various real Veteran groups here in my home town.

I do not know where you live, but we have a few of those people where i live. It is funny because they wear ACU and carry buckets and have the same claim. It is interesting because everytime i approach a light where they are standing, they kinda turn or seem a little afraid. I still have my Active Duty sticker on my window. When i watch there reaction, i also suspect they are a scam. Some of them have VA ID, or at least they appear to be VA IDs.

What i suggest you do is get in touch of the local police and have them investigated. If they are not registered to be out there soliciting donations, they need to get locked up. I am tired of people using the Military to scam people out of money. It sounds to me you have done your research and found these crooks out. Now lets finish them and get them off the streets.

The USAFIS link in that Google search posted above comes up with a security warning on my system - I'd say you've been scammed. If it's too good to be true, it probably is.

Veterans In Need Foundation

its a scam most likely - a non profit place of any biz - is regestered through the state - this applys for any biz that is geuine - no one can run a non profit without the proper credentials - paper work and certain things - they may claim themselves as a non profit - but real non profit programs are always regestered already with the state they are already in to begin with before they can even start a biz - so after working for two nonprofit places myself we know that checking things out before moneys are shoveled out that it is safer to do so - so i commend you for you searching this out - its a shame when the people who need the most help and the good programs that really do help have to go through this - it is an insult to our country and just another form of extorsion and trust - its getting worse

Sounds to me like they were actually the "Veterans in Need" if indeed they were even Veterans. Go to any Military Surplus store and buy some ACU's, set up shop. At least if they were not legit they weren't sitting behind a computer in Nigeria trying to rip people off.

Aha, Good find Col.

No. But I think if you were told by others it's a scam; then it most likely is from what it sounds like. Thank god you didn't give any money.

If they are not on the IRS charity database http://www.irs.gov/app/pub-78/ they go NOT have non-profit status

if the VA has never heard of them you know it's a SCAM

It appears this group is as you suspected: phony.

Check out this news report on the group: http://www.local10.com/news/22813479/detail.html

Sounds like a porn company