Charity scam targeting Columbia businesses

Members of the Mid-Missouri Chapter for Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) said they learned about a man pretending to be with their organization and asking for cash donations about a week ago.

“I’m disgusted that somebody would use our image to benefit themselves,” said “Ratchet”, the chapter’s president.

“Ratchet” said the man is going by the name “Big John” and wearing a black vest claiming to be with the organization. He said he put a warning on Facebook and received messages from more than a dozen hair salons in the Columbia area who said the man recently stopped by and asked for money.

ABC 17 News checked in with the Columbia Police Department and the Boone County Sheriff’s Department who said they haven’t received any reports of the man asking people for money.

“I knew off the bat it wasn’t right, because that’s not what we do,” Ratchet said. “That doesn’t fit our mission.”

He added BACA doesn’t usually go out and ask for money. He said when they do, their decorated vests identify their organization.

“What you want to look for is somebody who’s giving you a really hard sell and trying to get you to make that donation right away, so you don’t have time to check into it,” said Sean Spence, Regional Director of the Mid-Missouri Better Business Bureau.

Spence urges people to be cautious when being contacted by a charity for the first time.

“Most of the time if you hear from a charity that’s legitimate, it’s because you’ve given to them in the past or because you have a relationship with them in some other way,” he said. “If you hear from a charity out of the blue that should be an immediate red flag.”

The BBB encourages people to research the organization before donating money.

Ratchet is asking people to do the same.

“If they can’t prove who they are, don’t give them any money.”