Cactus Village Community

Beware of Scam Artists . . . by CAO Karen Hughes

Jul 17, 2003

Beware of Scam Artists in Your Neighborhood

During the holiday season especially, we are all disposed to be more generous and are usually quick to respond when asked to help someone less fortunate. I recently received an email from a neighborhood Block Watch leader advising of a scam to which he had fallen victim. With his permission I am passing that email along to you so that you can avoid also becoming a victim. This incident happened in the area of 40th Avenue just south of Bethanv Home Road. The writer advised:

"A couple of weeks ago, at about we were just leaving the house when a man walked by. He didn?’t say anything, but he looked like he was looking for something or someone. I asked if I could help him. He said he didn?’t want to bother me since it was obvious I was on my way somewhere. I told him I could take a minute to hear what he had to say. He said he was asking for one dollar which was going to be used to help support a home for battered women. He had a clipboard, supposedly with information about the home. (I also wanted to let him know about our Block Watch.). He told me his name was Jess (or Jesse) Lee, and that he lived at (address omitted). He motioned in the direction of Palo Verde (the street on which the address was located) and indicated the address was around the corner, which it is. The next day, my wife and I put together a few flyers that we had prepared for the recent Block Watch meeting and the neighborhood cook out. I went to the address on Palo Verde to meet the man again and to make a small donation. I also wanted to see if I could get him interested in our Block Watch. When I got there, a woman - was sitting in front of the house. I asked if she was Mrs. Lee. She said she wasn?’t, and she told me her name. I don?’t remember her name. I asked if Jess Lee was there. She had never heard of him. I checked the address again to be sure I was at the right house. I was. I told her about my short meeting with "Jess Lee?”. She went into the house and came out with a receipt for $1.00 that her husband had given the same guy a day or two earlier. It was signed, but I don?’t remember the name he used. It WAS NOT Jess Lee. We discussed the guy?’s description and it matched. He was a white male, 40-ish, 5?”-lO?”, glasses, neatly dressed, well spoken, very polite and sincere.?”
In this case, the donation amount was small, but no one wants to be victimized by a scam artist representing himself as serving a charitable organization. If you are approached by a solicitor, ask for identification that links them to their organization. If you are still in doubt, request information about the organization so that you can research it before you make a donation. The representative of a legitimate charity should be more than willing to provide you with the requested information. Bottom line is, when in doubt-do your research before you donate. . . ☺