Published: July 01, 2009 07:47 pm      

Officials warn residents of phone scam

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Jefferson County Sheriff Roger Mulch is warning area residents who receive a phone call asking for donations for law enforcement, that it is a scam.

“There is a real union organization, but the tactics they use are a scam,” Mulch said. “They call themselves the Illinois Council of Police, which is a bargaining unit for a union with a very small membership up in Cook County. ... As a bargaining unit, they are probably not even police officers.”

Mulch and the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association is warning the public about the telemarketing group, which claims to represent police officers statewide.

“That’s how they get your money,” Mulch said. He added that when people receive the call, many hear the group is collecting money to help policemen and automatically agree they want to help police.

Donations received by the telemarketers are sent to a rented post office box, usually at Mailboxes, Etc., then picked up once a week and mailed to the union’s offices in Lombard or to the paid telemarketer.

“Sheriff Mulch and the ISA want to make it perfectly clear that this group does not represent any sheriff in the state of Illinois, nor are they associated with the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association,” information on the scam states. “It is important to remember that the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association never solicits by telephone. On the contrary, the Association and Sheriff Mulch have gone on record encouraging all police organizations to abstain from telemarketing.

The Illinois Sheriffs’ Association and Mulch offer these tips when dealing with telemarketers:

Never give out your credit card or checking account information over the telephone unless you know the organization is reputable.

Insist on getting written information about the organization before donating.

Contact your local law enforcement agency regarding questionable organizations.

Do not agree to send cash by mail.

Resist high-pressure tactics and organizations wanting to pick up a check or cash.

If necessary, just hang up.

Remember, it’s your money and they have no right to it unless you are comfortable and willing to donate.

Our local law enforcement organizations that solicit for donations are the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association and the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police — Jefferson County Lodge 241. The funds raised by these two groups support local youth and prevention programs for citizens in Jefferson County.

If anyone calls claiming to represent the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association, residents are asked to report the claim to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 244-8004.