NY Attorney General Calls For Investigation Of Breast Cancer Donation Claims

As it does every year, pink is popping up all around for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Clothing labels, your morning caffeine dose, and makeup lines all sport the iconic ribbon.

But with a number of recent cancer charity scams making news, the New York Attorney General's office has called for a review of businesses who promise that proceeds from purchasing pink-ribbon items goes to support breast cancer research, according to the Associated Press.

"Consumers who intend to support this cause deserve to know that their purchases do the good promised," New York Attorney General Eric Schneider told the news outlet.

In June, Schneiderman filed a lawsuit against the Coalition Against Breast Cancer for being nothing more than a "sham charity." The complaint alleged that the company solicited stole nearly $9.1 million in donations from the charity, according to the Attorney General's website.

The Attorney General's office's Charity Bureau is asking companies and charities to release donation and advertising-related information within the next month, the AP reports.

Marie Claire reported that it's best to avoid pink-ribbon merchandise since no one owns the rights to the symbol outside of Susan G. Komen for the Cure's special trademarked version.

Daniel Borochoff, president of the American Institute of Philanthropy, told the magazine:

"There is a lot of deception that goes on with breast cancer charities."

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