Attorney General Ashley Moody has taken legal action against Cancer Recovery Foundation International, Inc. and its founder Gregory B. Anderson for misusing funds meant for cancer patients. The charity, which also operated under the name Women’s Cancer Fund, claimed to provide financial support directly to cancer patients and families in need. However, a civil investigation revealed that only a small fraction of the donated funds actually went towards supporting patients.
In response to the situation, Attorney General Moody stated, “The defendants in this case exploited that generosity to solicit millions of dollars in donations that were never allocated as promised. We are taking action to prevent the charity from deceiving donors and recover money for cancer patients.”
FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Samuel Levine also condemned the actions of the charity, stating, “Cancer Recovery Foundation International and Anderson abused the generosity of American donors in the most egregious way. The FTC is committed to aggressively pursuing such illegal conduct, which hurts donors and deprives legitimate charities of needed funding.”
The legal complaint alleges that the charity and its operators were aware that the majority of donated funds were not being used to help women with cancer and their families. Instead, the money was allegedly used to pay professional fundraisers and Anderson’s salary. The charity had also previously worked with deceptive telemarketers until those organizations were shut down in 2021.
Joining Attorney General Moody and the FTC in the legal action are the attorneys general of California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin, as well as the Secretary of State of Maryland and the Utah Division of Consumer Protection.
To prevent falling victim to charity scams, Attorney General Moody has provided resources on recognizing and avoiding such scams. Additionally, individuals can report consumer scams or deceptive business practices at MyFloridaLegal.com or by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM.