North Carolina leaders are calling out several cancer charities that barely used any of the money they raised to actually benefit cancer victims. Attorney General Roy Cooper and Secretary of State Elaine Marshall announced Tuesday they're part of a lawsuit against what they call "phony" charities.
Secretary Marshall says government leaders "are sending the message to those trying to rip-off the giving public that we can find you, shut you down, and take you to court."
North Carolina joins all other states and the Federal Trade Commission in suing Cancer Fund of America, Children's Cancer Fund of America, Cancer Support Services, and The Breast Cancer Society. North Carolinians donated more than $1 million to those charities, but more than 80 percent of that money went to fundraisers instead of cancer victims or research.
Two of the charities have agreed to pay back some of the money and shut down. The lawsuit continues against the other two.
The North Carolina Secretary of State and Attorney General's offices both provide guidance on theirwebsitesabout screening charities.