Scammers posing as veterans in Mid Missouri

This week callers are posing as veterans in Columbia trying to scam people out of money.

They are pretending to be from Welcome Home Inc.

It is a nonprofit program that helps homeless veterans to return to society as self-supporting citizens.

The organization is need of funding for their $3.5 million building project on the Business Loop 70 East where the old Deluxe Inn was.

The building project will be a 32 bed shelter which serves men, women and children.

“The call was just out of the blue. And it was just a surprise to us that anyone would take advantage of a campaign that is so desperately needed to support homeless veterans in this area,” said Sarah Grim, the chief executive officer of Welcome Home Inc.

A scammer called Grim’s neighbor trying to get her to donate to Welcome Home’s building project.

“He was saying that they were veterans and that they would like to get money to help support our building campaign,” said Grim.

Police were able to track the number back to India.

Grim wants everyone to know if you get a call from people saying they work for Welcome Home, it is probably a scam.

“We are not calling individuals in Columbia or anywhere else asking for donations,” said Grim.

Instead the organization is directing people to its website where people can make a donation.

“We would never ask for credit card information over the phone, we want checks cash, things like that,” said Grim.