McHenry Sheriff: Be Alert for Phony Charitable Solicitations

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office has received several inquiries from concerned citizens of telephone solicitors using the Sheriff’s Office name. Sheriff Keith Nygren wants to provide the public with information necessary in making an informed decision prior to you contributing to these individuals, or telemarketers.

Throughout the year, telemarketers have solicited donations from citizens within McHenry County on behalf of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 118, an autonomous fraternal organization exclusive of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.

All monies solicited by telemarketers in the interest of Lodge 118 are used by that organization for its purposes alone; none of the funds raised by this organization are distributed within the Sheriff’s Office, “nor as Sheriff, do I authorize, endorse, or control the fundraising techniques employed by it,” Nygren said in a release. “The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office does not solicit funds for any reason over the telephone.”

Often, such forceful tactics as utilized by telemarketers to solicit donations generate citizen complaints. Any similar complaints you may have regarding the conduct of any solicitor can be made directly to Nygren at 815-338-2144

The Office of the Attorney General can also be contacted at the following address or telephone number: Charitable Trust Bureau, Office of the Attorney General, 100 West Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601, 312-814-2595

Additional information may be found at the Illinois Attorney General’s website at http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/charities/investigate.html.