Someone has been swindling Metro Detroit business owners, asking them to help support a fake camp for children with special needs, authorities say.
A woman has been soliciting donations for the bogus camp at businesses in Oakland and Wayne counties, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday.
Sheriff Michael Bouchard said deputies were alerted to the scheme last week, after a Pontiac restaurant owner donated $150 to the so-called “2026 Camp Explosion.”
“People that seek to violate the goodwill and generosity of caring people for their own enrichment must be held accountable,” Bouchard said in a press release.
He’s asking other victims or potential victims to come forward if they’ve been approached about donating. The scammer provides victims with a flyer indicating they can give $150 to cover the cost of sending one child to the camp, or $400 to cover the cost for an entire family.
The flyer also includes a contact listed only as “Mrs. Alex,” along with a website and an 800 number.
However, the website, campforkidsspecialneed.com, does not actually exist and the phone number connects callers to an unrelated business. Bouchard said a person with the business told detectives he gets about four calls a week from potential donors asking about the camp.
“If there are more victims out there, it will allow us to substantially increase the charges against this heartless scammer,” Bouchard said in the release.
Authorities have not provided additional identifying details about the female suspect. Anyone who may have been targeted is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (248) 858-4950.
mreinhart@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Special-needs camp scam targets Metro Detroit businesses, sheriff says
Reporting by Max Reinhart, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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