Devine issues consumer alert on reparations scam

Devine issues consumer alert on reparations scam

In response to Ald. Dorothy Tillman's (3rd) call for an investigation, Cook County State's Attorney Dick Devine Wednesday issued a consumer alert warning the public, especially Black seniors to ignore a bogus slave reparations letter.

Devine asked seniors not to respond to these mail solicitations that ask for their names, addresses, Social Security numbers, date of birth and other data requesting the information to be sent to a Washington, D.C. post office that is registered to T.R.E.A. Senior Systems League.

Devine said T.R.E.A. Senior Systems' League, a not-for-profit firm based in Alexandria, VA, says the letters were not authorized or distributed by their organization.

After the sender fills out the form, the perpetrators of this scam claim they will be mailed an application to receive their $5,000 reparations settlement check.

Except, Devine said it is not true. Rather, he called the letter a "cruel hoax" that targets the elderly. "The federal government has not enacted a `Slave Reparation Act' and no one is eligible for a $5,000 payment," said Devine.

"Giving out the kind of personal information requested in this letter can lead to identity theft," he said.

Tillman said: "Lassar said he would turn it over to the Secret Service. I think it is very serious, and we commend Lassar and Devine. I would hope that on Sunday all African American ministers will tell their congregation not to fill out this form and to be a part of this hoax...."

According to Devine, copies of this hoax letter has been received throughout America including Philadelphia, Milwaukee, and Baton Rouge.

Devine asked the public to call me with their questions or complaints at his Consumer Fraud Division: 312-603-8600.

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