Gun Violence Scammers Seek Victim's Phones 'To Assist' With Donations: Glenview PD

GLENVIEW, IL — Police are warning residents about a group of scammers that have been setting up shop outside local businesses under the guise of collecting donations to support families who have been victims of gun violence.

According to Glenview police, the group of three have recently been spotted in the village asking for the donations through an app on their phone. They also ask for the victim's phone to assist with the donation, which allows them to approve the fraudulent amount and perform multiple unauthorized credit card transactions.

In a social media post, Glenview police listed the following tips regarding the scam:

• Do not give control of your phone to anyone you do not know
• Do not give your credit card to any unauthorized solicitors without a permit.
• Do call the police if you suspect a scam. Even if you do not engage the offenders, you can help prevent someone else from becoming a victim.
• Do increase awareness of your property and surroundings when there are multiple people involved.

"Let's work together this holiday season to protect our finances, our property, and our safety," police said. "Please share the reminder with family and friends."