Recurring Check Scam in the Oceanside Area
SCAM ALERT: Fraudulent Solicitation of Donations with Unauthorized Use of National Wheelchair Basketball Association and Oceanside High School Information.
How the Scam Works
Individuals have approached local business owners attempting to solicit donation money to support their wheelchair basketball team. The individuals have a flyer in their possession that looks to be from the NWBA indicating that they need funds to participate in the upcoming "Tournament of Champions" in Las Vegas, Nevada. The flyer contains the NWBA's logo, a 501(c)(3) Federal Tax Identification Number, and Oceanside High School's address. This information is meant to assure the business owner of the individual's legitimacy.
However, the individuals have forged the flyer and have no affiliation with the NWBA or Oceanside High School. After receiving the check, the scammers cash the check and disappear with the money. While the individual scammers remain at large, we have provided a copy of the scam flyer to this notice.
Tips to Spot the Scam:
• Be aware of individuals using this flyer or one similar to it.
• Check the NWBA website to see if the team is registered.
• Ask for identification outside of the flyer to confirm the individual's affiliations.
• Call the listed school to see if the solicitation is authorized.
To report a scam to the Better Business Bureau, go to use the BBB scam tracker:
https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us
To learn how to protect yourself, go to “10 Steps to Avoid Scams”.
https://www.bbb.org/avoidscams/
Example of Scam Flyer
