Scammers targeting Highland Park parade shooting victims

Scammers are targeting the victims of Highland Park’s mass taking pictures, Illinois’ lawyer typical warned.

Anonymous callers have contacted survivors of the Fourth of July parade taking pictures and misrepresented what condition money guidance they could be entitled to, the legal professional general’s place of work stated.

“As victims of a violent crime — which includes those people afflicted by the horrific shooting in Highland Park — try to get well from trauma, they should really not have to kind by way of misinformation or possible scams relating to programs that might offer help in a time of need,” Illinois Attorney Typical Kwame Raoul wrote in a assertion.

Studies of attempted cons have occur from “a quantity of household associates and buddies of victims injured,” the legal professional general’s office wrote. The anonymous callers supplied assist filling in the state’s Crime Victims Compensation Program software.

“Many of the callers misrepresent the program’s eligibility demands and protected costs,” the statement reported.

The point out application provides monetary reimbursement to eligible victims of violent criminal offense for selected bills, such as funerals and burials, counseling, shed wages and clinical expenses, the assertion said. Programs for the application can be observed online.

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Victims who get phone calls with regards to the Crime Victims Compensation Software need to confirm that they arrive from the attorney general’s workplace and can request in-human being appointments, the statement said.

“Illinois law prohibits men and women from charging applicants a charge for support in filing an application. In addition, state legislation restrictions reimbursement to statutorily determined expenditures,” it continued.

The lawyer general’s business also inspired point out people to investigate charities right before generating donations aimed at supporting Highland Park victims. Folks ought to keep away from giving donations in cash, pay shut consideration to charities’ names and request how much of a donation will go to the charity, the assertion claimed.

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Crowdfunding platform GoFundMe at this time lists 15 distinctive confirmed fundraisers requesting revenue for Highland Park victims on its site. The Highland Park Local community Foundation is also raising cash on its web site, which was shared by the town.

Persons hoping to get hold of further information about the Criminal offense Victims Compensation Plan or report suspicious information and facts about the software should really call the lawyer general’s crime target help line at 1-800-228-3368, the assertion stated. All those in search of to report suspicious charities need to contact the Legal professional General’s Charitable Have faith in Bureau at 312-814-2595.

An before version of this story misstated the cellular phone selection for the state’s crime target aid line.

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Twitter: @jakesheridan_