Those donation boxes you may see at the checkout counter aren’t collecting money for charity—instead they’re part of a for-profit business scheme, according to the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection.
The small boxes typically feature a photo of a pet or child and claim to be supporting efforts to find missing pets or children.
In reality, according to the consumer protection office, they are part of a for-profit business venture that brings in cash for the owner of the boxes.
Eric Friedman, director of the county office, said Thursday the boxes are believed to be in at least 100 to 200 businesses and there may be more. Sometimes the boxes offer candy in exchange for a donation.
“The box screams charity, but in reality it’s not,” Friedman said. “Both consumers and businesses have been misled. We’ve found some businesses who have allowed them to be placed on their counters have done so out of a mistaken belief that this was a civic duty.”
The office, which works to weed out commercial fraud in the county, said it became aware of the issue after an anonymous tip.
Photo provided by the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection
An example of a donation box shown in a photo provided by the office includes text that says, “The owner of this unit has given $500 to a local animal support group and pays for a lost and found website. The website is provided as a public service. The goal is to help find missing pets and to find loving homes for unwanted pets. This is not a charity. The purchase of candy does not constitute a charitable donation. Please do not take candy without paying for it. Any profits from the sales of this candy help compensate the owner for his time and expenses.”
Friedman said the language on the boxes has been carefully crafted to avoid fraud allegations, but the boxes taken in their entirety can mislead consumers, which is a violation of the county’s consumer protection code. He said most people probably don’t read all the text on the box. He did say, however, the office was able to confirm that one animal services group received a one-time $500 donation from someone affiliated with the boxes.
The box in the photo released by the consumer office features a photo of two Dalmatian puppies. An apparently nonexistent website is also listed “uspetrecovery.com/Montgomery.co.” However, USpetrecovery.com is an existing website, but does not display any contact or other information. It contains only a map of the United States and the text, “A Coordinated National Effort to Find Missing Pets.”
Friedman said the consumer protection office has been investigating the boxes and leads have taken investigators to a possible kingpin and companies based in North Carolina that may be manufacturing them.
He said the county may pursue legal action against those who are placing the boxes in businesses, but also wants to increase public awareness about the nature of the donation boxes to help stem their proliferation.
Anyone who sees a box similar to those described by the office is asked to call the county at 240-777-3636.
