by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
The Salvation Army in in Charleston, South Carolina, thought it had received a grand gift ahead of Christmas – a $25,000 check. The donation, however, turned out to be an expensive hoax that may force the charity to cut back on winter assistance for the needy. Things like this really are not nice now, are they.
Investigators said that more than a dozen Charleston-area charities have received fake checks before Christmas purporting to be gifts from a genuine local company.
None of the other charities cashed theirs, but the Salvation Army deposited its check. It went ahead and spent some of the money on food and toys for about 100 families, counting on the check to clear. Needless to say that it did not.
The bank called two days before Christmas to say the check had bounced, and the agency was left with less money than planned to help the needy this cold January. In addition to that, as is the usual operation of banks, they will have to pay for the check bouncing too, I should guess.
"It's a matter of counting on that so we would have a cushion," Kiki Cooper, the director of development for the local chapter, said. This single check, she said, represented about ten percent of what the Salvation Army typically raises during the holiday season.
The check and accompanying letter appeared to come from Force Protection Inc., an armored vehicle manufacturer in Ladson. The letter said the company had enjoyed success and wanted to share with local charities.
Other charities called the company about the unsolicited donations and Force Protection sent out a memo Dec. 17 — the same day the Salvation Army deposited their check — saying it had been the victim of a holiday scam.
Officers are investigating but so far, so we understand, there had been no arrests in the case, according to Major John Clark of the Charleston County Sheriff's Department.
Tommy Pruitt, a spokesman for Force Protection, said the checks were written on a company bank account that had been closed months ago. He said he did not want to speculate on who might be responsible.
Cooper said the check arrived at the busiest time of year for the charity.
"People say why don't you check every check? We have old ladies who send us a dollar and we're talking at this time of year we have anywhere from 500 to 1,000 checks coming in a week," she said.
Cooper said people were already offering to help offset the loss.
"We've actually had a couple of people walking in dropping off $20. We have that at Christmas, never in January," she said.
Nationally, the Salvation Army raises about $500 million each holiday season — about 40 percent of its yearly donations.
Gift checks sometimes bounce or credit card charges get rejected, said Jennifer Byrd, a spokeswoman for the national organization. "But it's so inconsequential in the overall giving we receive."
To make jokes like that – which are not funny and fraud at that – in times of need when organizations like the Salvation Army are the lifeline for thousands if not more is beyond my comprehension and is, in my opinion, extremely reprehensible. To suggest that the person responsible be ashamed of himself and come forward and surrender himself to the police is probably wishful thinking.
© 2010
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