(CARBONDALE, IL) Southern Illinois Healthcare is alerting area citizens of a fraudulent fundraising effort. SIH recently learned that individual(s) claiming to be representatives of the Breast Center are attempting to secure credit card numbers from would-be victims in a phone scam. The Carbondale-based Breast Center does not engage in this type of fundraising method and does not support these unlawful practices.
Anyone who has received such a call is urged to contact local law enforcement officials or phone the Illinois Attorney General Consumer Fraud Hotline at (800) 243-0607.
Below are three tips to avoid donation fraud:
· Hang up immediately (a lengthy call allows some scammers to tap into the victim’s phone line)
· Check your caller i-d and write down the phone number
· Again, contact local law enforcement or call the Illinois Attorney General Consumer Fraud Hotline
SIH encourages fellow southern Illinoisans to protect their personal financial information. Be wary of unsolicited phone calls or e-mails, many are fraudulent. Do not share information with a person, website or business that you have not verified with a reputable source.
|