Fairhaven Businesses Warned About Fake School Donation Scam

Another day, another scam to report here on the SouthCoast. Yesterday, we reported on a story about a fake National Grid worker knocking on doors in Fall River and asking homeowners for access to their home computers.

National Grid and the Fall River Police Department have made it clear that there is no reason any employee at the power company would need to have any access to your home computer. They suggested not to hesitate to call National Grid with any suspicious activity whatsoever.

This morning, we're learning about a different scam happening in Fairhaven.  Local businesses in the town have reportedly been contacted to donate funds to the Fairhaven Public Schools.  The problem is that there is no such fundraiser happening.

Fairhaven Public Schools released this statement late this morning on their Facebook page.  "It has been brought to our attention that an individual using the email address glennwillett@schoolsponsoringregionggx.com is currently contacting local businesses to request donations. These solicitations are not authorized or approved by the Fairhaven School System."

The sad part of these scams is that they may discourage donors who might otherwise be happy to make a contribution. Businesses and residents may become hesitant because of a fear that their donation will be used fraudulently or that their credit card information may be compromised if it lands in the wrong hands.

No one can say how long this string of scams is likely to last, but it's probably safe to say that the scamming is going to become more and more sophisticated.  The situation is likely to get worse before it gets better.  Until then, generous people who want to help worthy causes are best to play it safe and double check before handing over a donation.  A simple phone call to the organization can help give you peace of mind.