Special Reports

Helpers Or Solicitors At LAX?

LOS ANGELES (CBS) ―

"You need some help?"

They look like official volunteers at LAX. Ready to help the traveling public.  But there appears to be a hidden agenda.

"Why do you come out as you're helpful to people when you really are soliciting money for a charity"  

LAX is known as a haven for solicitors collecting money for charity.

On any given day you can see them coming and decide whether to drop a dollar in the bucket or walk away.   

But it's these people collecting for "Another Chance Outreach Ministry" that has official airport guides like Joyce Webb upset.

"You said they're like vultures?  

Yes they are like vultures. They do not even let people out the door, they even come inside and solicit and take money and i don't think that's right. That's what we're here for. We're the guides not them"

Stand up:" The organization is a legitimate charity and as such is permitted by the L.A. Police Commission to be at the airport. But the issue is the methods some of them use to solicit the traveling public."

LAX police are familiar with the solicitors from the ministry. They've been cited almost 20-times in the past year--sometimes for fraud.  

So we sent several producers undercover with hidden cameras posing as travelers needing help.

In one case we were approached outside terminal 4.

"Can I help you?

I'm so lost do you work here?

I'm a volunteer ma'am.

Ok with the airport?

Yes"

In another outside the Bradley Terminal.  

"Can I give you some directions?

Actually I'm totally lost"

Both times they gave directions....

"The purple sign will say rent a car shuttle"

Then the pitch begins. When they identify themselves as being volunteers for the ministry.

"Can I ask you a question before you leave. Could you give a donation please?"

"Before you leave would you help with the fundraiser for children?"

This man visiting from Australia also got the pitch.  

"Looked like he had the appropriate ID and all that. He  showed it to me and then he hit me up for 20 bucks."

Another solicitor admits he collects big bucks.

"I think the most I've gotten is about $250 a night"

And how much goes to charity?

"100%

One hundred percent goes to charity?

Yes, yes."

But according to the L.A. Police Commission, only a little over half of the money they raised last year at the airport actually went to charity. The rest went toward the charities administrative fees. However it's all legal.

"How much money do you make man?"

The volunteers claim they're doing nothing wrong.

"We don't tell them that we work here.

Do you tell them that you volunteer here?

No we say we do volunteer work here.

Dg-oh that's a matter of semantics, you do volunteer work here."

"Do you tell people that you're raising money and soliciting for charity?

Have a nice day Jesus loves you"

"Why do you come out as you're helpful to people when you really are soliciting money for a charity"

"It's a very thin line"

LAX police sergeant Jim Holcom says solicitors can't claim to be volunteers for the airport or they'll be cited for fraud. But short of that they can say just about anything and dress anyway they like.

"Do you think they try and look like your volunteers?

Certainly"

"They walk up to people and say can I help you

That's not true"

Reverend Rickey Hammond runs Another Chance. He claims he didn't know what was going on at LAX. He showed me the shelters he operates and claims his solicitors shouldn't be misleading the public.

"Is it right to trick people at the airport?

It's wrong. Completely wrong and it's illegal"

But we found it again and again.  

Can I help you?

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