Checks to charity turn out to be hoax

The $25,000 check came at just the right time.

As Christmas neared, the Salvation Army found itself with a surprise surge of families in need of food and toys for children. The check, the largest the charity received over the holidays, would cover the costs.

The charity, which serves the tri-county area, promptly deposited the check the Friday before Christmas and began spending money to buy more food and toys for about 100 families who had unexpectedly called for holiday help.

A couple of days before Christmas, after the money was spent, the bank told the Salvation Army the check had bounced.

It was part of a cruel hoax played on several area charities before Christmas.

Capt. Anthony Juliana, head of the Salvation Army's Lowcountry operation, said Tuesday that the loss was a big hit that could force the charity to cut back on some of its efforts this winter, such as helping people with heating bills.

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The Salvation Army assisted almost 8,000 people in the Lowcountry over the holidays, including 4,400 children younger than 12 who received Christmas gifts and food. The organization raised some $300,000 during the season to cover the costs, so losing $25,000 "wasn't any fun," Juliana said.

The bogus gift was among an unknown number that someone sent out using forged checks and the letterhead of Ladson-based armored vehicle maker Force Protection Industries Inc.

Tommy Pruitt, communications director for Force Protection, said the company learned of the fake checks Dec. 17 when it received calls from some of the charities that received them. The company issued a public statement that day warning about fraudulent checks purported to be from the armored vehicle maker.

Pruitt said it's unfortunate that someone has tried to do this to charities that do good work for the Lowcountry. He said the company doesn't know who did this or why. But, he said, "it appears to be a smear campaign" against Force Protection.

Force Protection has been apologetic and told the Salvation Army, "We're sorry this happened to you," Juliana said.

The checks sent to the charities were accompanied by forged letters stating they were from the company's chief executive officer, Michael Moody. The letter said Force Protection had been successful over the year and wanted to share that good fortune with the community.

Force Protection said it is working with law enforcement to discover the origin of the fraud.

Charleston County sheriff's Detective Robby Colson said authorities have identified a possible suspect but have not talked with the person. He said about a dozen Lowcountry charities received forged checks. Most of the checks were in amounts less than the check to the Salvation Army, which was the only organization to actually spend money based on the checks. The other charities received bounce notices before attempting to use any of the money, Colson said.

The detective said the person sending the checks appears to be from outside the company and fabricated the checks and letterhead. The account number was from a closed account, he said.

What would caused a person to do this? "That's a good question," Colson said, adding that it is "fascinating what motivates people."

Juliana said he too has no idea what would prompt someone to do something like this to the Salvation Army. He said the person either wanted to be a Robin Hood or get back at Force Protection for something.

Unfortunately, the people who might be hurt are the needy who won't get the help they need if the Salvation Army has to cut back, Juliana said. "I'd rather give it away. I don't want to have to scale back."