C Trabue

This is an incredible documentary exposing the telemarketing fraud of companies like Civic Development Group (CDG) in conjunction with non-profits but most notably, the FOP (police). These people defrauded our most vulnerable citizens by taking their money and literally using it for themselves when it was promised to charitable organizations. For example, when a policeman was injured while on duty, millions of dollars were raised for him but he received not a single dime. This isn't just a one-off either. Director and independent journalists Sam Lipman-Stern and Adam Bhala Lough were once, themselves, employees at CDG and a lot of the early footage is from those early days 20 years ago. Besides the charities and the people on the other end of the phone line that CDG defrauded, the telemarketers themselves were victims, of sorts. Former murderers, drug addicts, and drop outs, CDG and companies like them had these people tied to their jobs. Many were unemployable or were on parole and were threatened with parole officers. Lipman-Stern and Lough go to great lengths to meet with the FOP, the FTC, and politicians. Responsibility is constantly shifted and it becomes apparent that no one in government or non-profits wants this cash cow to end despite how corrupt and evil it is. At the same time, we see the good, the bad, and the ugly of the personalities that are the actual telemarketers. These are not caricatures of telemarketers but who they actually are. Like all of us, they are complex characters. It is important to point out that as much as this is a David and Goliath story inspired the style of Michael Moore's documentaries, it is more real, raw and personal. These independent journalists/ documentary filmmakers take their power back and help expose the company and industry that exploited them during a difficult time in their lives. For Lough, especially, the ride is worth it. When we first see him he is a drug addict falling asleep on his phone in the telemarketing center. About halfway through the series, he's been in recovery for years and is on a mission to complete the documentary. What they've done is inspiring and will likely help a large number of people. I have no affiliation with the people or the documentary series in any way. I just really loved it and think it's worth watching.