201-795-5059

A man called with an attitude and asked to speak with my boss.  He said his name was Mike Russo.  I told him my boss was travelling and he said he was told that my boss was supposed to return today.  I said he wouldn't return for some time and I could take a message.  He provided his phone number:  201-795-5059 x37.  He sounded annoyed and very urgent.  My boss actually called the guy and told me "Mike Russo" also had the same annoyed attitude.  Mike was being really pushy trying to get my boss to donate to his charity.  If we donated, Mike would send someone to our office to pick up the check (most likely to avoid providing us with his mailing address).  Also - he said all these other companies donated thousands to his charity.  It sounds to me like a big scam.  I looked up this number on the web and it belongs to someone with a different name.

I am personal friends with Mike Russo, he does a lot of great work for the local charities. He was probably having a bad day. If you had to talk to some of the people he has to, you'd be the same way.

I received that call too. Said his name was Joe Carbone and was working for Frank Williams. I asked for a mailing address and was given 123 Town Square Place JC 07310, A UPS store. I don't buy that they have an office in the UPS Store. Scam?

I also received a call from 201-795-5059 Mike Russo. He sounded annoyed, was rude and short with me, and was not answering my questions about the details of his call. I know better then to pass a call like this to my boss. If he is really asking for money for a charity, this is the wrong way to do it. Charities do not treat people this way; this sounds like a scam.

you know Mike Russo?  Well you better tell him to change his tactics.  Because any office manager or assistant would not let a guy with his atitutde and lack of info thru to the CEO of a company.  If he truly works for any charity - NOT!, then they need to hire someone new!

I know mike russo personally and can assure you he does a great deal for many of the local charities.  He makes a lot of calls and sometimes people can get off on the wrong foot.

got a call from them also , checked it out with the pd. its official.this is a legitimate program. i think people sshould check with  the department that says is calling. that way the idiots who post comments that dont know what they are talking about hurt our local charities. i gave 3500 and i know it went where they said it was going to go, i unlike some of the people who made a comment here didnt. check your facts.before you say any old thing.

Got a call from them wanted to check it out, they invited me down for coffee and biscotti. The only thing I wanna know is where the hell do they get their biscotti. Seen the work they do with some of the inner city kids, I should of been so lucky to have guys like these on my side! Remember the compliments forget the insults guys, keep up the good work and God bless you!

I checked it out it is legit. If you are ever in doubt call the police dept and verify, that's all. It's not that hard.

I received the same call and since we have an office in Jersey City and Mike Russo said it was a matter of public safety I listened, but they did not answer as such when I called back to verify.  I called Jersey City and reported it and they were going to look into it.

This is a scam. Their address is not affiliated with the Jersey City PAL. They use a name "Police Activity League of Jersey City" which looks legit, but the real charity is Jersey City PAL. The address 123 Town Square is a UPS Post office box. The real address that you should send any donation to is 163 Old Bergen Road.
If you have any second guesses... call them at 201-434-3366,

They do NOT have any annual program for business' that donate. These callers are rude, obnoxious and are all about a check. They are not about the kids that the donations are supposed to help.

The new caller for this same number states his name as  James Costello from the City of Jersey City at 201-795-5059 x37, extremely rude and loud and ill mannered.

Some of the people that posted here are not being truthfull. We are currently investigating this type of activity.
As a rule you should only donate to your local police fire ems ect.....These agencies never solicit over the phone. Scam
There are plenty scammers out there and this may be one.
If not then call the North Bergen Police Department and set up an appointment so we can verify that you are a legit organization.
I personally doubt that anyone will call.
By the way the caller this time came to a place of business he claimed his name was Scott McKinney. When the merchant called the police the suspect fled on foot.

Now he said his name is Jone Harris....  I remember his voice....  He has been calling me for years...
He said he is from Jersey city police...  his number is always "private call".  Be careful...

Stop calling, Very upset !

Now his name is Scott McKinney and he's collecting money for bullet proof vests for the local police... The police never heard of him though...
Smell like a big scam!!!
I also love all the pisans that are posting the positive comments... - very convincing...

It's a scam.  They call saying they are with the "City of Jersey City" acting all official saying he's not at liberty to discuss the matter with anyone, then they hit you up for a "donation".

He's calling himself Steve Wagner now.

I also received a call from 201-795-5059 Joe De Carlo regarding public safety,but  previous times he introduced him as Mike (3 times). My receptionist was trying to talk to him, but he  was rude and short with her, and was not answering her questions about the details of his call. She transferred him  to me  and I asked him the same questions, plus I mentioned that he is calling himself different names and I am going to call to Police and he hanged up. If he is really asking for money for a charity, this is the wrong way to do it. For me it is a scam.

This same [***] has been calling our office for the past few years.  The name has been Mike Rizzo,  Mike Russo, Joe Carbone, James Costello and a few others that slip my memory, he even slipped in an "anglo" name once.  The latest name being Frank Rocco.  This is a complete and total SCAM.  And the comments above regarding it being legitimate are from guess who???  I can bet Mike Rizzo, Mike Russo, Joe Carbone, James Costello, the few others that slip my memory and Frank Rocco.  IE:  The same old [***] that has been calling for years.  I have a great memory for voices and this is the same person.  Numbers he's called from because I've kept a record are 201-795-5059 and 201-293-7716. Do not give money.  When this angry douche calls just hang up!  Don't waste your breath on his idiocy.

Just received phone call from a Joe De Carlo, the number that he gave me was 973-482-7177, He was very rude and abrupt... He said he was from Newark Police Department's Public Safety and at first he said there was an public safety matter. I thought since we were a new business that we has a violation of some kind... I called the number back and the person just answered Hello, not Hello, Newark Police..... So I then called Newark Police Department and they said they have NO campaign going on whatsoever and they also said they have no one employed under that name. I then called Montclair Police Department and I just repeated what he said to me and obviously they have no one under that record either, but I figured this is where our business is located I would give it a shot. Obviously they had no record of this person either, and they said if he ever showed up to the business for a donation to call the police right away. It is not a crime to make a phone call, but it is a crime to collect publicly with false advertising.