Sheriff
issues warning regarding
telephone fund raising scam
Cook County Sheriff Michael F. Sheahan
is warning citizens throughout the county to beware of over-the-phone
solicitations from callers claiming to represent the Sheriff's Office
and other law enforcement groups. Sheahan issued the warning after his
office received numerous complaints about telephone solicitations by
individuals seeking cash donations for various anti-drug efforts,
including the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program. The DARE
program in Cook County is funded entirely by the Sheriff's Office and
does not rely on any fund raising campaigns.
"The public should know that
there is no employee in the Sheriff's Office authorized to solicit money
over the phone for any department program," Sheahan said. Police
and fire departments throughout the county have reported receiving
numerous complaints regarding similar unauthorized solicitations. Those
making the solicitations often identify themselves as members of law
enforcement agencies, such as the Cook County Sheriff's Office or
fraternal police organizations. "Con artists often prey on the
goodwill of their victims by claiming to represent charities and crime
fighting organizations," Sheahan said. "They have managed to
steal millions of dollars from honest citizens by simply using a
telephone as their weapon."
While some police unions and other
fraternal organizations hire telemarketing firms to conduct fund raising
campaigns over the phone, sheriff's deputies and law enforcement
officers from other agencies are strictly forbidden to make any
solicitations for donations while acting in an official capacity.
According to Sheriff's Police investigators, most of the
"scam" callers claim they are seeking cash donations for
programs aimed at fighting drug abuse among the young. They then offer
to come personally to the home to pick up the payment. In some cases,
the solicitors have asked the victims to tape the cash donation to their
doors for pick-up later that evening. "You should be suspicious of
any caller that asks for money," Sheahan said. "No matter how
legitimate or worthy a cause might sound, never make a cash donation
based solely on a phone conversation with an unfamiliar caller."
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