SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced a lawsuit Wednesday against a Mill Creek couple for allegedly running an illegal charity scam.
Knowledge 4 Kids, doing business as Kures 4 Kids, and its operators, Michael and Amy Gannon, allegedly used multiple deceptive practices to lure consumers into making donations. The Gannons gave the impression that donations would help children, but the couple allegedly applied only a small percentage of donations to a charitable purpose. Most of the donations allegedly went to personal expenses and to pay employee wages.
"This is the third time the Gannons have been involved in deceptive business practices," Ferguson said. "We'll keep pursuing them until they stop scamming consumers."
K4K asks for donations at tables set up inside or outside grocery stories and other retail establishments. K4K solicitors are paid $10 per hour, but they allegedly told potential donors they were volunteers. After collecting the money, the solicitors are allegedly paid in cash from the donations.
The lawsuit alleges the Gannons engaged in multiple violations of the Washington State Consumer Protection and Charitable Solicitations Acts.
Ferguson is seeking an immediate restraining order to keep the Gannons from scamming consumers during the holiday season. The suit also seeks civil penalties and other relief.
Wash. AG files lawsuit against allegedly deceptive charity
