CONSUMER ALERT: Scammer Going Door-to-Door in Salt Lake City
SALT LAKE CITY — If someone comes to your door collecting for the boys and girls club, don’t reach for that wallet just yet.
Police have issued a warning about a man going door to door, claiming to be soliciting money for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake. The man has identified himself as “Jonathan Turner” or “Jonathan Tate.” He is described a 6 foot tall African-American male, 20 to 30 years old, who carries a red binder.
“It started about maybe about three weeks ago,” said Amanda Ree Hughes, senior development manager for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salt Lake. ” We got one phone call saying ‘Somebody knocked on my door asking for money.’ They thought that was kind of suspicious.”
The number of calls escalated until it became numerous calls per day. Hughes emphasizes that the Boys and Girls Club do not send any representatives door to door.
“Police have made contact with the guy already, he’s not being charged with anything, we’re just investigating and building a case,” Detective Richard Chipping told Gephardt Daily.
“Mostly it seems to be in Sugarhouse, in the 200 East, 1300 South neighborhood, when clubs are closed, so they can’t call and check” Hughes explained.
“These types of things are quite common,” Detective Chipping explained, and offered a few tips to help avoid scammers.
“If you have someone at the door and you feel uncomfortable, do not give money,” Chipping said. “A few good warning signs, would be that they don’t have any identification, their demeanor , or if the way they are asking seems a little strange.”
Police are asking anybody who believes they have given this man money to contact them at 801-799-3000.
