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Local Businesses Say 12-Year-Old Girl Uses Charity In Scam

POSTED: 8:18 pm EDT June 14, 2008
UPDATED: 9:56 pm EDT June 14, 2008

Using an illness she doesn't have, a 12-year-old girl is accused of bilking money from dozens of local businesses, NewsChannel5 reported.

Parma police said the girl stole hundreds of dollars from hundreds of people by using a big-name charity.

Officers said she's using the Multiple Sclerosis Society to scam people out of money. Now victims and the real charity are hoping to find and stop her.

Jake Ballard from the Road Quake Auto Store can't believe the girl conned him.

He said her story was a well-thought-out one.

"MS and basically Cedar Point had kinda hooked up on a way to raise money through Cedar Point season passes. Her deal was you get three season passes for $40," Ballard said.

He said his friend, Browns player Rex Hadnot, also bought into the scam.

"She got him for $100 and got me for $140," Ballard said.

She gave them a receipt and promised the passes by Wednesday.

With no passes in sight, Ballard called police and the local MS office.

Janet Kramer with the Multiple Sclerosis Society said the girl has made her way all over Ohio using their name to steal money.

"A child by the name of Victoria was soliciting money from people," Kramer said. "She has often times had our bike brochure with her and asks for cash, and she she says she is collecting money for Bike MS."

Kramer said they could not survive without the donations they receive.

"We're concerned that as people hear about this person that's out there fraudulently collecting money in the name of Multiple Sclerosis that other people will not be willing to give or give as freely as they have in the past," Kramer said.

The MS Society told NewsChannel5 that real volunteers won't ask for cash only and they won't promise something in return for the donation.





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