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 1 Animal Group Stung by Phony Donation — Basic Story

A group that takes care of animals was given a fake donation. It was for a very large sum of money. The check
that they received in the mail was for $95,000. The group depends on donations to help the animals. They were
very happy when they got the check.
Ed Stewart is very thankful when somebody writes a check for the animal group. He works for them. The
animal group is called PAWS. They take care of animals that used to perform and other rescued animals. They
have elephants, lions, bears and lots of other animals at their shelters. They depend on donations to help feed
and take care of the animals.
There was a note that came with the donation in the mail. The note was short but looked official. It looked like it
was from a company called O'Reilly Media. The note said that the donation was to help PAWS.
PAWS took the check to their bank. They wanted to add the money to their bank account. The people who
work at the bank said that the check looked real. The bank deposited the check into the PAWS account. Then
PAWS started spending the money. They bought equipment, paid for animal food and paid some of their bills.
A few days later PAWS got a surprise. Their bank called to tell them that the check was not real. The check
bounced and there was no longer $95,000 in their account. The money that PAWS thought they had was gone.
PAWS contacted the firm that they thought donated the money. They learned that the company did not send the
check and was also a victim of the scam. They told PAWS that they did not know who sent the phony check.
The publishing firm also talked to a local news station. They said that PAWS was not the first organization to
receive a fake check. They told a reporter that several dozen organizations had received phone donations in their
name. The publishing firm said it has notified authorities in the United States and Canada. The phony donation
to PAWS had a Canadian postmark.
Once an organization gets a fake check they get a second letter a few days later. They are told in the second
letter that part of the money needs to be sent back. The organizations usually get the second letter before their
checks bounce. They send money back and then find out that their donated checks have bounced.
PAWS did not receive a second letter from the crooks before their check bounced. PAWS did not actually lose
money. But now they have to explain to people why their bills are not really paid.

 2 Animal Group Stung by Phony Donation — Full Story

A local animal welfare group that survives almost entirely on donations thought it got a blessing in the mail.
But the $95,000 check turned out to be part of an elaborate scam.
The initial surprise came in the mail last Tuesday. It was a cashier's check from a New Jersey bank in the
amount of $95,000.
"We're really grateful when anybody writes us any check. But to have a big check come in, it's a real boost,"
said Ed Stewart of the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). The donation represents about 6 percent
of the Galt-based organization's annual budget. PAWS cares for rescued exotic and performing animals at three
wildlife sanctuaries.
A brief note on the letterhead of a reputable publishing firm accompanied the check. "This donation is to assist
in your humanitarian and compassionate efforts," the note explained.
PAWS deposited the check at the Farmers and Merchants Bank in Galt, where bank staff said it appeared
genuine. "It was just as legitimate looking as anything could be," said Pat Derby of PAWS. "It was a cashier's
check, and in my mind a cashier's check is like cash money."
And then the spending began. "When you get a big check you pay some bills that you've been sort of holding,"
explained Derby. PAWS bought equipment, paid feed bills and other obligations.
On Monday came the second surprise -- a call from the bank. Five days of euphoria over a flush bank account
came to a sudden end with the news the check was no good.
"It's really devastating, horrible what people do," said Derby as she fought back tears. PAWS contacted the
purported donor and learned the publishing firm is also a victim of the fraud. A fax from O'Reilly Media
explains "our company has no affiliation with the individual(s) involved in the scam. We regret any
inconvenience this may have caused your organization."
A spokesperson for O'Reilly Media told News10 the firm is aware of "a couple dozen" non-profits that received
phony donations in the company's name. "We were shocked at first, until we realized how easy it is to do," said
Sara Winge.
The donations appear to be the initial step in a variation of the so-called "Nigerian Scam."
Based on what happened to at least one other non-profit involved in the scam, O'Reilly Media warned PAWS a
secondary letter from the con artists might ask for a partial refund of the donation. The publishing firm said it
has notified authorities in both the United States and Canada. The phony donation to PAWS arrived with a
Canadian postmark.
PAWS did not receive a second letter from the crooks before the check bounced. Because the scam did not play
out completely, PAWS did not actually lose money. But the organization is now in the uncomfortable position
of stopping payment on outgoing checks and contacting creditors to explain what has happened.
"We were very happy for four or five days," Ed Stewart said of the riches-to-rags story. "But we're pretty tough
and we can take it."

 3 depend

rely on; need

 4 deposit

put into; as in a bank account

 5 donation

a gift for charity

 6 firm

a company

 7 notified

told about

 8 official

approved; real

 9 organization

persons acting together for a purpose

 10 phony

fake; not real

 11 rescued

saved from harm or danger

 12 shelter

a place that takes care of unwanted animals

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