I got a very pushy call from these people, and somehow they got me to commit that I would donate (they also pushed the price up on me, can you give a couple more dollars?)  The last thing they said was that this was a RECORDED call, so they had proof of me agreeing to pay them (they've done this in the past to me, too, and kept sending me letters, asking for reimbursement for the cost of the paperwork and stamp when I don't respond).  After reading your comments, I went online myself.  It is a scam.  Here's what the BBB says, http://www.bbb.org/chicago/business-reviews/p ... ove-il-28003190

OK here is even better info for all of you. I asked the caller where I should send my check. He told me that they would send a envelope for me to mail back. I received the envelope with information from Police Athletic League. I went online to see where the address is located. It was in Elgin at a UPS store. Ugh. These people are total jerks.

I used to work for T.A.I. and do these calls. I worked there for a little over 6 months, and it's still hard to tell if it's a total scam or not. From what my bosses explained to me, it doesn't seem too much like it. The only reason people get rude are because they're working in a crappy telemarketing place, in a grey cubicle having to ask strangers on the phone for money. You wouldn't be too happy and excited if that was the only available job you could get either. They will hire literally anybody, as long as you're able to talk on the phone and make sales. It's a really s****y environment there, and you get a lot of mean people on the phone. The people calling your home isn't out for your money and to scam you, they're just doing their job and reading off of a piece of paper. They don't care about your life, and you obviously don't care about theirs, but please people, stop with the extremely harsh things you say to whoever calls you, unless they are rude to you first. I've been called some really horrible things before, and I'm always very nice and polite. Some people have even been as mean to make me break down and cry during my job.. Anywho, now I'm rambling..

When they call and suddenly hang up and you only hear a word or two, that's because it's done on a computer that automatically makes the call to your house, and then the name of the head of the household, the address, and a few other random things pop up. We NEVER hear when you first answer the phone and say "hello", so we just start off by asking for whoever's name pops up. (this is also why many women get mad because someone will refer to them as a male (say their husbands name is bob) and then the usual reaction is "DO I SOUND LIKE A MAN TO YOU??!!")

If you are rude, we will put you back on redial, and someone else will eventually call you again. The best way to avoid this is to directly be asked to be taken off of the list, OR EVEN BETTER: Ask to speak to the supervisor, and ask that person to take you off of the calling list. Then the supervisor is required to actually take it off. When the callers take your name off, we're basically just putting you on redial, but for either another charity, or call you back in a few months to a year.

But yeah, it's a s****y job to have, and it's s****y to get calls from them. But please just be polite and ask for the supervisor and have them take you off the list, if you really want to be taken off. Being rude will NOT get you anywhere.

Called  at 8:45PM did not leave a message. Showed "Illinois Call" on my caller ID

This company is TAI they are a Non-profit organization. Very unorganized and unprofessional job. You pretty much have to be a scum bag or you lose your job. Jeff Russo is the owner. I'm interested in the legitimacy of it all, but from what I remember..... How it works is a representative will call you presenting the informative speel to get a money donation. It's a big Loop, and it works like this....Promote fliers which would normally be sent to all those in the community and risk getting only few donations or call them and send out the packet to those who can absolutely make a money donation cash or check never credit. They were pretty decent but became very greedy and loose over the years. Though the percentages are very low the revenue is extreme you would be surprised how much these places make yearly it's sick. You see they don't really care about you or the organization they just care about the $Mighty Dollar$. They don't want to make conversation they are interested in one thing and one thing only. I don't blame the people working there. Sometimes one has to put personal feelings beside in order to survive. Legitimacy and transparency is always key when it comes building and raising funds. They don't equip there workers with correct information. Ask any one of the what TAI stands for I'm sure 2-10 would know. It's all privileged, I mean who ever heard of sales Job within or through a non-profit organization, that doesn't even sound right.

Monday 6-20-2011 ... 847-908-7040 called at 8:48 in the evening. I saw Roselle, IL on the caller ID so yeah I answered the phone thinking it could be one of my kids.  Female ask if I was Marva Kray (wth? she knew my name...I said yes speaking...she goes on to say some organization (I didnt understand her eventho she was very articulate) when she said how are you this evening I knew it was a solicitation... I am dealing with cancer right now...I didnt need phone calls at 9 at night....I politley told her that my number was on a do not call list...Get this! She proceeds to tell me that that does not apply to non for profit organizations! That got my dander up!...I told her yes it does... that if shes asking for money its soliciting no use trying to sugar coat it...She wanted to argue the point till I simply said " Look...Im dealing with cancer right now...Im sorry. Please dont call again...(I think she was enbarrassed) I hung it up. I mean .... Really?...I say do not call list and they assume they are that slick that it does not apply to them. If a stranger is calling for money...hell yeah it applies. I get these calls at least once a week and late at nite...If I'm expected to give money to save a poor animal...guess what? Crystal Lake has a dog pound..I'll adopt...in fact I did....If I'm expected to donate to a poor starving child...there is always a place at my dinner table. Phils Friends and the national cancer society were the only ones beating down my door trying to help us deal with my cancer...I will find a way to pay back their kindness...but I dont hand what little we have to a total stranger over the phone. As far as little missy is concerned she broke the law when she kept arguing the point of a do not call list.

The fact that crook is still operating points the finger at our broken political parties, and corrupt govt. You see ads on TV for scam products every single day. Vets unite! We have to fight for right! He hung up on me too. Thats the evidence I base my opinion on.

Got a call from and machine picked it up. They kept saying my name over several times and hung up. I now have them blocked

I get this call today.  All the caller ID says is Illinois phone call.    They did not leave a message on the answering machine.  They are now blocked.

call on caller id no msg left, other info reports this call is scam being investigated

Calls almost daily- never leaves a message

Calls constantly and leaves no message.

Called AFTER 9 P.M.

Got a call from this number at 9:15 on a Saturday morning. The guy said he was calling on behalf of the Illinois Police Athletic League. He went into a schpeel about how they are a non-profit organization that helps kids. He then asked if I would be willing to donate $30-$35. I told him not right now and he said, 'okay, how about $20-$25?' Again, I told him not right now so he said, 'how about $10-$15?' At that point, I hung up.

I went online and looked up the Illinois Police Athletic League to see if was even legit and found the Police Athletic League of Illinois. I would think that if you are soliciting donations for an organization you would give the correct name of the association.

If you are interested in this organization, I would recommend donating at their website... http://www.illinoiscrimecommission.com/aboutus/

i answered it said "cellular call" i said hello

male said "really?"
and click disconnected.

the last couple days i have gotten calls, hangups, no message from
630-786-1362 illinois vietnam veta

You don't mess with Harley Davidson mister!  The boys down at the bars are going to stick in your place when the find out you made a mockery of OUR service to America.  You know you are not an actual benefit to anyone but yourselves.  So I suggest 847-908-7040 better be wearing a flack jacket and a nut cup for the next call, see you in hell, filthy scamming b*****ds!

A recording told me to wait for the next rep, after about 15 seconds it disconnected. I called the number back, no answer. I have a non published numer!

The caller said her name was Mary Tai or something like that - represented Wishing Well - the only way to get rid of a nuisance like her is to hang up and file a complaint with the Do Not Call Registry if you are on it.

I got a call from this number when I wasn't home.  A voice said, "Hilary?" and then hung up.  Thanks for letting me know that this isn't a number worth calling back.

I just received a call from them.   They said that they help ill children's wishes come true.   They are very persistent, even when I said that I don't contribute to phone solicitations.  I also said that I was out of work.  It didn't matter to them -- just send whatever is comfortable.   I said, "Nothing is comfortable!!"

Keep a referee's whistle by the phone and give the jerks a healthy blast when they start their BS.

Received call at 5pm or so and asked for my wife. Said she wasn't available and caller hung up.

Fwd to FCC not BBB, you have the right idea

Called up asking for wife and then asked to speak to me. I asked who he was and then he asked for my wife again. I hung up. Gonna report this to the donotcall.gov website next.

Frank  The greater number of these callers are very rude. They think my only  goal in life is to buy from them, or to be another sucker. "proof" is used to fwd to the BBB as another complaint to be investigated. The more complaints the greater chance of an investigation. No I am not paranoid, just tired of smart a***s thinking they know everybody. Some of us have respect for other people. WHERE DO YOU FIT IN?

Or you're paranoid?  Why do you think all these people are out to scam you?  How about you use your caller ID and not answer calls from numbers that you don't know.  What do you need this "proof" for?  What have you done with this information you have about this number being not legit?

Hey Frnak.  I have a life and a recorder for scams and that gives me proof. If they are legit they won't care and continue to present their promotion or sales pitch.  Think about it Frank, some people get fed up.

Wanted a donation. They had 3 levels of donations. $15.00, $20.00 or $25.00. Told them that we know that he was a scam artist and that the call was being recorded and he hung up

This is a scam, do not give them money, they are brash, aggressive and full of it.  If you ask them to send you info on their charity, they hang up.  These people are out to take money from anyone using our great military as a front.  The FTC has been notified, hopefully they will end their horrible tactics.  Scam alert.

THIS NUMBER IS BULL-SHT THE POLICE IS INVOLVED IN THIS MATTER!!