Scammers targeting Highland Park parade shooting victims

Scammers are concentrating on the victims of Highland Park’s mass capturing, Illinois’ legal professional normal warned.

Nameless callers have contacted survivors of the Fourth of July parade shooting and misrepresented what condition economical assistance they could be entitled to, the attorney general’s place of work stated.

“As victims of a violent criminal offense — together with people affected by the horrific taking pictures in Highland Park — endeavor to get better from trauma, they really should not have to type by misinformation or opportunity cons relating to packages that may well offer support in a time of need to have,” Illinois Attorney Standard Kwame Raoul wrote in a statement.

Studies of tried scams have come from “a number of household members and buddies of victims wounded,” the legal professional general’s office environment wrote. The nameless callers supplied enable filling in the state’s Crime Victims Compensation Plan application.

“Many of the callers misrepresent the program’s eligibility needs and coated bills,” the assertion said.

The condition system supplies economic reimbursement to eligible victims of violent crime for particular expenses, like funerals and burials, counseling, misplaced wages and health care expenses, the statement reported. Apps for the method can be observed on line.

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

Victims who get calls pertaining to the Crime Victims Payment Software should confirm that they appear from the attorney general’s office environment and can ask for in-man or woman appointments, the assertion reported.

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“Illinois legislation prohibits individuals from charging candidates a price for support in filing an software. In addition, condition law limits reimbursement to statutorily decided expenses,” it continued.

The attorney general’s workplace also encouraged point out inhabitants to study charities before making donations aimed at supporting Highland Park victims. Men and women should really prevent providing donations in hard cash, pay near consideration to charities’ names and question how a great deal of a donation will go to the charity, the assertion reported.

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

Crowdfunding platform GoFundMe at the moment lists 15 different verified fundraisers requesting dollars for Highland Park victims on its site. The Highland Park Group Foundation is also boosting revenue on its internet site, which was shared by the city.

Folks hoping to receive supplemental data about the Crime Victims Payment Plan or report suspicious information and facts about the program must get in touch with the attorney general’s crime sufferer help line at 1-800-228-3368, the assertion said. People trying to find to report suspicious charities must simply call the Lawyer General’s Charitable Trust Bureau at 312-814-2595.

An previously edition of this story misstated the phone quantity for the state’s criminal offense victim assistance line.

jsheridan@chicagotribune.com

Twitter: @jakesheridan_