Boston police are in hot pursuit of three men allegedly engineering a fake charity scheme, targeting unsuspecting shoppers under the guise of fundraising. These individuals reportedly approached their victims, spinning a tale of personal tragedy, seeking donations for a deceased brother. However, their true intention emerged when they walked away with credit cards and phones, racking up charges amounting to thousands of dollars.
Details obtained by WCVB illustrate that at least two incidents occurred in a Walgreens parking lot, where the suspects, feigning to show credentials on a victim’s phone, promptly charged $5,000 instead of the $5 they solicited. “I’ve never seen that before. I’ve been here for like three or four years, and I’ve never seen anybody try to scam anybody on these streets, so it’s kind of different,” said Kyle Brandao, of South Boston. He highlighted the novelty of the ruse, expressing hope for the quick apprehension of the suspects to prevent further robberies.
These deceitful encounters expanded beyond Walgreens, reaching shoppers at a Whole Foods in the South End. One victim, surrounded and pressured by the trio, found herself unable to deter their demands. Despite her refusals, they managed a hefty unauthorized transaction on her behalf…