(WWJ) The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office is warning local business owners about a heartless new scam.
Detectives say a female suspect has been soliciting donations in Oakland and Wayne counties for a phony summer camp for children with special needs.
The camp does not exist.
Last week, a Pontiac restaurant owner was swindled out of $150, officials said, thinking he was donating to support something called “2026 Camp Explosion."
A camp flyer suggests a donation of $150 for one kid and $400 for a family that will cover camp costs.
“Thank You and God bless you for giving,” the flyer states, also listing a nonexistent website (www.campforkidsspecialneed.com) and a 1-800 number that actually belongs to an unrelated financial business.
A person at the business told detectives he gets about four calls a week from potential donors asking about the camp, and warns the callers that the camp is a scam.
Officials say they're looking for a woman in connection with this case, but there's no name or description of the suspect at this time. A contact, "Mrs. Alex", is mentioned on the flyer, but it's unclear, who, if anyone, that is.
The sheriff's office wants to hear from anyone else who donated money.
“People that seek to violate the goodwill and generosity of caring people for their own enrichment must be heldaccountable,” Sheriff Mike Bouchard said. “If there are more victims out there, it will allow us to substantially increase the charges against this heartless scammer.”
If you have been targeted by this fake charity, you are asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 248-858-4950.
