Consumer Alert: Stimulus Rebate Check Scams

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. Department of Justice are warning consumers about emails and phone calls from scammers claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA). The IRS does not gather information for rebates by telephone. Nor does it send unsolicited e-mail to taxpayers about tax account matters. Filing a tax return is the only way to apply for a tax refund; there is no separate application form. The only official IRS Web site is located at www.irs.gov.

Visit OnGuardOnline.gov/phishing for more information about phishing scams.

Announcements

OVC invites you to visit VictimLaw, the free database of more than 15,000 victims’ rights legal provisions, which has helped more than 7,000 visitors since its debut in April 2007. Visit VictimLaw to see how easy it is to locate victims’ rights laws without a law library or state code.

National Crime Victims' Rights Week: April 13–19, 2008—Justice for Victims. Justice for All

President George W. Bush proclaims National Crime Victims' Rights Week as April 13 through April 19, and encourages all Americans to promote awareness of victims' rights and advance this important cause.

Attorney General Michael Mukasey honored recipients of the 2008 NCVRW Awards and delivered remarks in appreciation of “professionals, volunteers, public servants, and especially crime victims . . . [who] have chosen a vocation that brings them into daily contact with tragedy, but . . . do it willingly to help others.”

The 2008 National Crime Victims' Rights Week Award Recipients were announced at the awards ceremony hosted by the Office for Victims of Crime on April 11, 2008. This year's recipients were honored for their contributions to victim advocates, organizations, and programs in the field of victim services. View the award recipients' photos and biographies.

The "Justice for Victims Is Justice for All" multimedia release offers more details on the April observances, including an audio message from OVC Director John Gillis in support of crime victims and service providers.

This year's NCVRW Resource Guide is now available online and features sample press releases, camera-ready art files in color and black and white, the 2008 theme DVD, public awareness posters in English and Spanish, and more.

Training and Technical Assistance

OVC Training and Technical Assistance Center Fact Sheet (April 2008)
This updated fact sheet (FS 000313) provides an overview of OVC TTAC's mission, as well as many training resources and support activities that are available for victim service professionals and organizations.

Foundation-Level Training Curriculum (December 2007)
Materials from the revised 2007 National Victim Assistance Academy, track 1, which lays the groundwork for building a career in the victim services field. The 12 modules are available in multiple formats: Word, PowerPoint, (PPT) and Portable Document Format (PDF). See also: Academy Textbooks and Videos.

Grants and Funding

Awards of $50,000 to $500,000 are available through the FY 2008 National Field-Generated Training, Technical Assistance, and Demonstration Projects grant to provide services and support to crime victims or to ensure that victims are afforded the rights to which they are due. Applications are due May 29, 2008.

Web Forum

Every month, OVC 's Web Forum offers online discussions on high-interest topics in the crime victims' field. Find out what questions and answers were shared in the previous discussions:

• Implementing Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Programs, hosted April 23, 2008, by Lucia Zuniga, Director of the Massachusetts SANE Program, and Joan Meunier-Sham, Associate Director of the Massachusetts Pediatric SANE Program.
• Using Online Communication to Assist Crime Victims, hosted April 16, 2008, by Penelope Hughes, Vice President of Online Services at the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN).

The Office for Victims of Crime is a component of
the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.