Scammers targeting Highland Park parade shooting victims

Scammers are concentrating on the victims of Highland Park’s mass capturing, Illinois’ attorney common warned.

Nameless callers have contacted survivors of the Fourth of July parade taking pictures and misrepresented what state fiscal aid they might be entitled to, the legal professional general’s business office reported.

“As victims of a violent crime — like individuals affected by the horrific capturing in Highland Park — attempt to recuperate from trauma, they ought to not have to type by way of misinformation or prospective cons relating to systems that may possibly deliver assistance in a time of will need,” Illinois Attorney Basic Kwame Raoul wrote in a assertion.

Reports of attempted scams have occur from “a variety of household users and good friends of victims injured,” the attorney general’s office environment wrote. The anonymous callers available assist filling in the state’s Crime Victims Payment Application application.

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

The condition system supplies monetary reimbursement to qualified victims of violent criminal offense for specified charges, including funerals and burials, counseling, missing wages and health-related payments, the assertion claimed. Programs for the program can be discovered on line.

[ What we know about the mass shooting at the Highland Park Fourth of July parade ]

Victims who obtain calls regarding the Crime Victims Payment Plan should verify that they appear from the attorney general’s office and can ask for in-individual appointments, the statement mentioned.

“Illinois law prohibits folks from charging candidates a cost for assistance in submitting an application. In addition, state legislation restrictions reimbursement to statutorily decided fees,” it ongoing.

The lawyer general’s business also inspired state inhabitants to investigate charities ahead of generating donations aimed at supporting Highland Park victims. People today ought to prevent supplying donations in dollars, fork out near attention to charities’ names and ask how a lot of a donation will go to the charity, the assertion explained.

[ Highland Park survivors and suburban mothers march on U.S. Capitol calling for assault weapons ban: ‘This is not political’ ]

Crowdfunding system GoFundMe at the moment lists 15 distinctive confirmed fundraisers requesting funds for Highland Park victims on its site. The Highland Park Local community Basis is also increasing income on its internet site, which was shared by the metropolis.

People hoping to attain additional facts about the Crime Victims Payment Plan or report suspicious data about the system should phone the attorney general’s crime victim guidance line at 800-288-3368, the assertion claimed. People in search of to report suspicious charities ought to call the Legal professional General’s Charitable Belief Bureau at 312-814-2595.

This is a establishing tale. Look at back again for far more updates.

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Twitter: @jakesheridan_