Charity poker tournament scam Alfred Jack Walls ucarecharitypokertour.com cliffs in OP - Page 9 - Poker News

raidalot · 12-01-2011, 05:34 AM

I wrote my previous post before seeing the Ce1ska post which raises further issues. In particular the BBB link contains reference to a lot of issues around reporting, accountability, privacy protection, fundraising complaints etc

JW: I think it is also important that you adress these and supply the documents which you are supposed to publish (expenses, board members, gaap accounts etc)

BrickPlz · 12-01-2011, 05:37 AM

Some well respected members on here have jumped down
the throats of some posters for starting a witch-hunt against
Jack and U.C.A.R.E. without any proof, etc.

By the same token these members shouldnt be sticking up for an
organisation they know nothing about and have no evidence that the
charity is run legitimately.

sqwerty12 · 12-01-2011, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tamiller866

This company organized a tournament, failed to pay the second place prize for months and then comes here and says he'll be the bigger man and pay the prize himself since the prize winner is making a big fuss about it.

In what bizarro universe is all that legit? Because they have the word 'cancer' in the name no one should question the company? And we can't question the guy running it because his father may be a victim/casualty?

The company might not be a scam and might just be run by a careless/lazy/unorganized guy, but the burden of proof should no longer be on the op after the BS that guy posted.

i'm sorry but i don't see a single bit of bs this guy posted. Yes op had problems receiving his prize but to conclude that this company are scammers over a $200 payout is a stretch as far as i'm concerned. The guy gives what i believe is a reasonable explanation of why this occurred. Get over it i say.

BrickPlz · 12-01-2011, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ce1ska

OK so after initially giving Jack the benefit of the doubt this makes me a bit leery about the whole situation.

For some reason the story was deleted IDK It will also ask you to print something just press cancel.

Sketchy article

Not complying with BBB

Joel Zandrowicz - NSFW'ish

Doesn't seems to be associated with the charity any longer but it seems like they go back a few years.

And although this looks super sketchy we should still wait for Jack to produce paper work before we officially call him a scumbag scammer =/

The sketchy article does indeed look sketchy to me.
I always thought that charity workers were volunteers and did it for
no money i guess i was wrong.

bronx bomber · 12-01-2011, 05:54 AM

The link that Ce1ska posted says the charity spent $129,000 but gave out only $82,000. The BBB link says it has 3 full time and 3 part time employees. That doesn't seem to go with him only receiving $10K. Not saying the charity is bogus but an explanation would be appreciated.

BrickPlz · 12-01-2011, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dak9885

I worked for a environmental charity for about 3.5 hours. 50% of donations as salary.

Crooks if you ask me.

wow . my uncle works for the salvation army and im pretty sure he does
it as a volunteer with no pay.

doublejoker · 12-01-2011, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charder30

Chainsaw just stop. This is not unusual. But the UCARE rep really needs to address the blue dudes posts ITT.

If I worked for a charity I would volunteer my time. Sorry if I offended anyone by asking why he took a salary.

tamiller866 · 12-01-2011, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sqwerty12

i'm sorry but i don't see a single bit of bs this guy posted. Yes op had problems receiving his prize but to conclude that this company are scammers over a $200 payout is a stretch as far as i'm concerned. The guy gives what i believe is a reasonable explanation of why this occurred. Get over it i say.

So it's not the cancer aspect but the amount of the prize that gives him a right to a free pass? The fact that someone would scam such a small prize hoping the winner would just give up because it was for 'cancer' makes it even scummier to me.

The 'sketchy' article says this guy filed bankruptcy (a legal scam) when he was 21, how do you screw up so bad you have to hit the reset button on your life and welch on all your debts by the time you are old enough to drink legally?

raidalot · 12-01-2011, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrickPlz

By the same token these members shouldnt be sticking up for an
organisation they know nothing about and have no evidence that the
charity is run legitimately.

If you mean me, I didn't mean to stick up for them. But imo the right approach is to give them a chance to explain, provide info and answer reasonable questions and then only if the info/answers are unsatisfactory should the flaming begin. I know this is NVG but still!

I think there are a lot of causes for concern here:
- OP experience
- Sketchy comments
- BBB issues (the biggest concern)
- Failure to provide info quickly when asked
- Failure to include any financials on Website http://www.ucareamerica.org/

However, I just think there should be a fair chance to address the issues before the most potent forms of flaming begin.

On the issue of pay etc, the website says JW is full time so if he has indeed spent 2 years and taken only $10k then that in itself does not seem like a basis for criticism (would the critics be willing to do that?). It is not unusual for charity staff and fundraisers to be paid. However, that doesn't preclude that they could be creaming off money in other ways.

(Also bear in mind there are several other unrelated non-profit organisations around the world called UCARE.)

lillou · 12-01-2011, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doublejoker

If I worked for a charity I would volunteer my time. Sorry if I offended anyone by asking why he took a salary.

lol because you don't work for a charity, so it's a bit rich to be taking the moral high ground here.

sqwerty12 · 12-01-2011, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tamiller866

So it's not the cancer aspect but the amount of the prize that gives him a right to a free pass? The fact that someone would scam such a small prize hoping the winner would just give up because it was for 'cancer' makes it even scummier to me.

totally disagree with this. the smaller sum suggests to me that it's an error or oversight which is exactly what he is saying.

lillou · 12-01-2011, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raidalot

If you mean me, I didn't mean to stick up for them. But imo the right approach is to give them a chance to explain, provide info and answer reasonable questions and then only if the info/answers are unsatisfactory should the flaming begin. I know this is NVG but still!

I think there are a lot of causes for concern here:
- OP experience
- Sketchy comments
- BBB issues (the biggest concern)
- Failure to provide info quickly when asked
- Failure to include any financials on Website http://www.ucareamerica.org/

However, I just think there should be a fair chance to address the issues before the most potent forms of flaming begin.

On the issue of pay etc, the website says JW is full time so if he has indeed spent 2 years and taken only $10k then that in itself does not seem like a basis for criticism (would the critics be willing to do that?). It is not unusual for charity staff and fundraisers to be paid. However, that doesn't preclude that they could be creaming off money in other ways.

(Also bear in mind there are several other unrelated non-profit organisations around the world called UCARE.)

+1

give the guy a chance to defend the charity, and THEN if he doesn't, go about your flaming

raidalot · 12-01-2011, 06:57 AM

This is the background of UCARE from its website ...

Quote:

United Cancer Alliance began as a vision of hope and has grown into a reality that continues to expand. The President of UCARE, Jack Walls, found out in October of 2008 that his father had been diagnosed with cancer and in his trips with his father to chemotheropy realized the vast need that many cancer patients had. Many were without insurance, jobs, or transportation. They found themselves wondering how they would get to their next treatment, pay for their doctors appointments, keep the electricity on, and even how they were going to keep their home.
Late one night, in December 2008, Jack awoke just after midnight to the revelation of starting a non-profit company that would be able to help those individuals that had been unable to find help anywhere else. He wrote down his ideas and plans and got a team togther to make this vision become a real life organization. Within 3 weeks, on January 19th, 2009, United Cancer Alliance was born. With the help of friends and other organizations, UCARE opened an office in the back room of an AllState Insurance Agency in Concord, NC. Jack got a loan for $4,000, bought banners, tables, marketing materials, and even had T-shirts designed. He began calling local businesses about setting up tables at their locations to solict to individuals for donations. That first weekend, they set up shop at Carolina Mall and raised over $6,000.
UCARE would eventually move into its own office later that year in Charlotte, NC and set up donation tables within a 50 mile radius of the city for the remainder of the year. By the end of 2009, UCARE had raised over $200,000 for the Charlotte area. In 2010, UCARE expanded into all of North Carolina and began an agreement with Wal-Mart to set up at different locations in both North and South Carolina in June 2010. Thanks to Wal-Mart, donations increased dramatically and nearly doubled UCARE's previously monthly totals from the past year and half. In September 2010 UCARE opened a new office near Atlanta, GA and began assisting individuals not just in the Carolinas and Georgia, but the entire SouthEast. Then, in December 2010, UCARE expanded yet again by opening an office in Colorado Springs, CO to begin assisting individuals in all 48 continental US states. By the end of 2010, UCARE had raised over $300,000 for the year.
2011 begins a new chapter for UCARE, as it grows from it's once local assistance into a national organization with hopes to raise over $1 million by years end. The company plans to expand further with new offices scheduled to open in Richmond, VA, Fort Myers, FL, and San Diego, CA in the next 8 months.

JW, perhaps you would also explain the difference between this:

Quote:

Originally Posted by JW1979

has been around for 3 years and has raised over $400,000 in that span.

... and the fact that the above says you raised over $500k in the first 2 years alone.

Also how can you recocile the above with this? ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by bronx bomber

The link that Ce1ska posted says the charity spent $129,000 but gave out only $82,000.

I am really hoping for the best here.

Stinky Johnson · 12-01-2011, 07:08 AM

Read the articles in post #115.

So obviously a fraud - a bustout poker player wants to promote poker tournaments, adds the magic word CANCER and voila! twoplustwo posters ignoring the obvious.

The website lists many regional offices, yet gives no addresses and phone numbers.
Way to pump up your stature for the naive and gullible.

raidalot · 12-01-2011, 07:13 AM

Another question. The website is unusual for a charitable organisation in that it has nothing about the beneficiaries (it is centred much more on fundraising). Normally you see examples of people and organisations that have been helped or those that need help, i.e. to explain to people why the organisation exists. On yours there is nothing like that. It just says:

Quote:

United Cancer Alliance is a 501c3 organization that financially assists cancer patients with everyday needs. Your support can help them with their utilities, mortgage, medical bills, and other needs they would not otherwise afford due to no insurance, loss of job, or low income. Donate today!!

http://www.ucareamerica.org

Do you publish summary of the recipients anywhere? eg how many people yo have given to, how much and what for?