Telemarketers

I'll give this short, 3-episode series props for ensuring I, not anyone I know, EVER donates anything to anyone who calls for a donation.

While this series seems to largely focus on police and fire institutions, I'm sure it's not much different when compared to ANY organization that utilizes telemarketing for "donations".

As a series.. it was compelling for all 3 episodes.

The only issue I had was how it ends.. in a puff of smoke, like it never existed.

But I suppose that's more due to the unsavory organizations having the money and power to control the government (which is really what the US Congress is built upon). All ya need to do is pay lobbyists and you can do the most unethical things to the rest of the population.

Make no mistake.. the government COULD stop this.. if they cared one iota.

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Sidebar.. I can't help but think if Phil dressed better, did NOT wear a hat, and took the damn sunglasses OFF for interviews he may have been taken more seriously. Read the room, as it were.

First of all PJP is a fantastic charming guy. He was dealt a bad hand but he made the best of it! He is so charming and passionate. Doing documentaries, being a spokesman is something that he has talent in, he is just lacking that upper-class training that most elite get.

Sam and Pat did a great freelance documentary! This is what real freelance journalism is, this is probably the best that it can be. And I was so exited to see you guys do your work.

The investigation was very interesting and I could feel it piecing together. It is one of those situations where you kind of need to be much more awareness to the public. It is in their interest to avoid giving them the donations.

In poorer countries we have something similar on much smaller scale: the begger scheme, where people give money to beggers thinking that they are helping a poor homeless person. In reality most of them are like a network that travel city to city and collect money for some kind of mafia boss. It is basically the same type of crime.

Anyway, I hope you guys made some money from this. I hope PJP and Sam might work on something more. Maybe I don't know, start a YT channel and review stuff they know and love.

Like the negative reviews have stated, there are a lot of straight up scumbags interviewed, and maybe it's not as polished and focused as a professional documentary, but it is certainly succeeds at what it sets out to do, which is expose the industry that takes advantage of vulnerable and/or naive Americans to the tone of billions every year. It was really cool to see how CDG evolved, and the footage was complimented by the frank, unscripted interviews they did with the various former employees.

I actually found the approach this documentary takes really entertaining, and I developed a sincere admiration for Pat for his dedication and tenacity. Sure he's not a seasoned journalistic pro, but you could tell he was super passionate about the project, and it showed in the end result. Good stuff, and I actually learned a few things and had many suspicions confirmed about how the industry works.

Holy crap this is some interesting stuff. From the very first line to the end of the first episode I was hanging on every word! Pat is absolutely hilarious! I think what has drawn me to this is how human it all is and extremely dysfunctional. The people in these telemarketing centers are just absolutely entertaining I don't really know any other way to put it. The fact that these guys started making a documentary or investigating telemarketers almost 20 years ago is amazing! I for one am glad they stuck with it, I cannot wait to see what all they uncover and where this goes. And I will say in all honesty, I had a fraternal order police sticker on my car year after year after year hahahahha. So they absolutely got me! Truthfully I never thought about Fraternal Order of Police being a scam. I knew others were but I did trusted this. Because they said they were the actual police, so yeah I believed it! What scumbags! Living the highlife while others scrounge just in order to help families of fallen officers! You're a special kind of as$hole to come up with this! I haven't donated to anything in a very long time and I never answer my cell phone if I don't know who's calling. I ended up getting a different cell and number for my business, and I don't know who had that number before me but I get multiple text messages almost daily from people trying to scam, usually offering money and/or loans. So telemarketing just has a new look. Same scam, just not on a landline! There's 2 more episodes so I'll come change my review if need be. But so far, yeah this is very informative.

One of the most shocking scams in American history exposed. While I knew about the fraternal Order of Police scam the depths of criminality are absolutely shocking.

The people behind the scam are and the governments lax approach toward protecting prosecuting them is even more disappointing.

However, it honesty and amatuer nature in which its shot that makes it even more engaging. You feel for the average man and it encompasses the shortcomings of the American legal system which punishes the poor and the drug addicted while rewarding the rich and powerful in white collar crime. It is a must watch for auto, telemarketing, and law enforcement.