Page 3 - Wish Network News Today

Fraudulent charities aren't always on peoples' radars when it comes to scams. Here's what to know about charity scams and how to avoid them.

Next month, Americans will honor the sacrifices made by members of the U.S. military on Memorial Day. The appeals from veteran charities will inevitably increase, as will the donations to these groups.

In-depth look at a charity that uses a tiny portion of the funds to actually help children. >> incredibly frustrating. >> reporter: these former employees say theyre afraid of showing their faces because theyre afraid of getting sued for telling the truth behind the kids wish network. the charity raises millions and millions of dollars, 22 million just last year, according to its most recent tax filing. but uses less than 3% of that cash to fulfill wishes of sick children. the kids wish network ...

The fbi showed up at her door. tonight, two more whistle blowers are speaking out here is part two. >> reporter: they are afraid of showing their faces because they are afraid on getting sued for what they say is the real truth behind the kids wish network. the charity raises millions and millions of dollars, $22 million last year according to the most recent tax filing. but uses less than 3% of that cash to fulfill wishes of sick children. the kids wish network does fulfill wishes, but these em...

Sickening listening to -- they raised $127 million over ten years, and are giving 3 cents on the dollar actually to kids and basically getting the dow nated things and giving to kids. there is a lot of reporting on the kids wish network from us and "tampa bay times," wfla kept close track. have state regulators done anything? >> anderson, a spokesperson for the florida department of agriculture and affairs which regulates the non-profits confirms there is an investigation on going into the deali...

Non-profits. confirms there is an investigation on going into the dealings of the kids wish network. the state got lots of complaints but weve seen it time and time again the investigations open up and close. at most they get a small fine. thats largely, anderson, because, you know, the laws regarding charities, they dont really punish you for being a really, really bad charity. so you can continue to be a bad charity. youre not breaking the law. the kids wish network has faced fines before in u...

Tonight, two more whistle-blowers are speaking out, heres part would of drew griffins investigation. >> reporter: these former employees say theyre afraid of showing their faces because theyre afraid of getting sued for what they say is the real truth about the kids wish network. the charity raises millions and millions of dollars, $22 million last year according to the most recent tax filing. but uses less than 3% of that cash to fulfill wishes of sick children. the kids wish network does fulfi...

Raise they actually spend helping those they claim to be raising money for. last night we told you about a former employee who blew the whistle on kid wish network and paid a steep price. the fbi showed up at her door. tonight, two more whistle blowers are speaking out here is part two. >> reporter: they are afraid of showing their faces because they are afraid on getting sued for what they say is the real truth behind the kids wish network. the charity raises millions and millions of dollars, $...

Does it surprise you that after all the reporting done on this group they are still in business? >> absolutely. >> it surprises me every single day. >> i mean, its just so sickening listening to -- they raised $127 million over ten years, and are giving 3 cents on the dollar actually to kids and basically getting the donated things and giving to kids. there is a lot of reporting on the kids wish network from us and "tampa bay times," wfla kept close track. have state regulators done anything? >>...

>> whatever we had in the warehouse we would try to fit it to that age group we were giving it to. >> reporter: was it companys leftovers, basically? >> thats what it seemed like, yeah. >> reporter: what happens to the donated money? in ten years kids wish network raised $127 million and nearly 90% of that went to professional fundraisers, not sick kids. the sick kids, they got at most 2.5 cents of every dollar raised. the charitys attorney says there is nothing illegal about the fund raising. m...