Deer Park Village issued an urgent fraud alert on Mar. 6 to warn community members about recent scams in which individuals posing as Village staff attempt to collect payments and personal information from residents.
The alert comes after several reports of fraudulent activity, including requests for immediate payment for permitting services via wire transfer and threats of final action allegedly on behalf of commissioners. The Village emphasized that it will never demand payment over the phone, at the door, or through wire transfer. Residents are reminded that legitimate employees always present Village-branded identification when conducting outreach, and any email not from vodp.net is not from the Village of Deer Park.
Community members are advised not to respond to or engage with scammers, avoid clicking links or downloading attachments from suspicious messages, and hang up immediately if contacted by phone. Incidents should be reported to the Lake County Sheriff Department’s non-emergency number at 847-549-5200. Complaints regarding cyber crimes can be submitted at https://www.ic3.gov/, while fraud can also be reported to the Federal Trade Commission at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or https://www.identitytheft.gov/. If a scam involves impersonation of Village staff, residents should notify the Village Office by contacting the Village Clerk Kim Kelly at extension 107 or Village Administrator Beth McAndrews at extension 102.
Deer Park Village supports community events and encourages resident involvement to enhance local life, according to the official website. The village also focuses on responsible development and preserving its residential character while delivering quality services to residents, according to the official website.
Greg Rusteberg leads Deer Park Village as its president, according to the official website. Deer Park Village operates in Deer Park, according to the official website.
The broader implication of this alert is a reminder for all residents to remain vigilant against scams and protect their personal information. The village continues its efforts toward community safety and encourages prompt reporting of suspicious activities.
