Got a call from this number from Melody Ferris. I was not at my desk so she left her name and number - and that's all. Just told me to call. Since I deal with a lot of vendors and trade show people, I did try to call back and didn't get an answer or a machine. Tried again a couple of hours later and some man put me on hold forever. I finally hung up. The background on "hold" sounded like Court TV or something, so I thought they might be attorneys but couldn't find anything in the phone book. Started searching online and found this site.
I'm in a small office and we don't donate to everyone. My boss has charities he likes and that's all we do. They didn't sound very professional so he won't be receptive to their tactics.
Thanks for all the info. I'll know how to handle it if they call again.
Was also asked to leave a check for a courier to pick up for the Shriner's Circus. When I kept asking for them to send me something through the mail, the asked if they could just fax me something. When I persisted to send it through the mail, they were able to quote my current address.
I also was called by the above phone number, but the caller ID read CUNNINGHAN & MO, NOT CUNNINGHAM & MO as I also first assumed when trying to verify it. I was also suspicious when I was instructed to leave the check under the doormat.
I verified that this number is a valid number for Cunninghan & Moore, a Memphis fund raising organization that works out of the Shriners Temple, 5770 N. Shelby Oaks Dr., Bartlett, TN 38134. Their main phone is 266-4441. At this time they are soliciting tickets to take disadvantaged kids to the circus for free. They get requests from hospitals and other organizations to take kids to the circus.
Note: although they use these tickets to take kids from hospitals etc. to the circus, this donation is not tax deductible (which does not bother me). Giving directly to Shriners hospitals is tax deductible as they have 501(c)foundation. I am a Lion and know how hard it is to get the 501(c) designation, so we also have a foundation for our local club, but donations directly to the local club are not tax deductible.