Criminal on Line One?

The phone rings, you answer it.

A voice on the other end asks you to donate to a charity for fallen police officers.

Don't you care about the deceased officer's family? the voice says. They gave their life. Don't you want to help?

Last week an Evergreen Park resident asked Patch in an email if they were being scammed over the phone, much like in this scenario.

Even though the resident is on a no-call list, they said, the solicitor was still able to reach them.

In this situation, said William Kresse, professor of Fraud Studies at Saint Xavier University, don't give the person on the other line any information. Chances are it's a scam.

“Always be careful when you get phone calls for policemen that have been killed,” Kresse said. “[Posing as] police organizations that raise money has been a popular scam in the past.”

How can you tell if the organization is legitimate, though?

Test the person on the other line, Kresse said.

“You might say, 'Well that sounds interesting, but I'm on my way out. Can I call you back?'” Kresse said. “Fraudsters will not give you a phone number – they want money now.”

Also, ask for the full name of the organization and where they're based.

According to Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 41 out of Springfield, Ill., not a single donation is asked for over the phone.

Moreover, troopers and state police are not allowed to ask for donations over the phone.

According to detective Phillip Rizzo, president of Evergreen Park FOP Lodge 27, his lodge is not soliciting anyone.  "That's not to say the national or state lodge would be having some type of campaign," Rizzo added.

With most of these fraudulent police-fund solicitations taking place over the phone, then, how do fraudsters get phone numbers that aren't even listed?

Online computer software, Kresse said.

With the software, fraudsters can randomly dial phone numbers from a database downloaded to their computers.

Once they've dialed a number, they need only to convince the person on the other line to send them money.

Fraudsters usually convince people by leading their emotions, Kresse said.

They ask leading or guilt-driven questions – why wouldn't you donate for the fallen; don't you care about the widows of this organization – and they'll rush people into giving donations before victims can hang up.

“Fraudsters will make promises with no intention of ever delivering,” Kresse said. “Senior citizens are targeted, because they tend to feel more sympathetic and aren't as skeptical.”

Watch Commander Randy Darlin, of the Chicago Police Department, said it's all hypothetical until a scam is reported.

“We will do an investigation if there is a scam,” Darlin said, “ but we can't speak policy and procedure; it gives criminals valuable information.”

Under Title 18 of the U.S. Criminal Code, once fraudsters obtain money “by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises,” they've committed wire fraud.

Wire fraud is a “perennial type of fraud,” Kresse said, punishable with up to 20 years in prison, 30 years if fraudsters commit the offense against an institution, corporation or agency.

In reality, Kresse estimates fraudsters will get up to two to three years in a state prison for the offense.

So what's the best method for dealing with criminals you can't describe, but for the depth of their voice or tone they carry.

Awareness.

“Report it, be alert,” Kresse said. “Get the name of the organization and ask the police if it's legitimate.”

Captain Gregory LaCompte, of the Evergreen Park Police Department, did not wish to comment.