By Jeff Lipton
When the same man appeared at her door a second time on Sunday, Dec. 17, asking for more pledge money for the walk, which he said was taking place that day in the pouring rain in Long Beach, she realized she was being conned. So she sent the man away empty-handed and called the police.
Although she said she probably would not press charges against the man, she wants to alert her neighbors that a con artist may be working the area and taking their hard-earned money. At least one neighbor on Briarwood Crossing was also victimized by the man, said Linda M., who declined to give her full last name.
She said she called the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) in Manhattan and learned that there was no walk sponsored by the group on that day. GMHC officials said they have never operated a walk to raise money on Long Island, but do hold an annual walk in Manhattan in May, when the weather is more suitable for the event.
The victim said the alleged con man, who showed up at her door riding a bike on Oct. 8, the day before Yom Kippur, produced identification with his photo and a name on it and was holding a clipboard with names and addresses of many people. He told her he accepted only cash, no checks or credit cards. She told the Herald the name the man used, which is being withheld by the Herald until a police investigation is completed.
She said he told her he lives in the neighborhood and his children attend local schools.
When he arrived at her door on Sunday, he said he was there to collect money she had pledged for every mile that he completed in the race. She told him she never agreed to that and then phoned authorities. He also told her that he collected $40 from her for the same cause last year.
"The whole thing was a scam," she said. "I was just a sucker for falling for it. And he had the chutzpah to keep coming back.
"It's just sad that someone is preying on people, especially for a cause like that one," Linda M. said. "I don't want to see him go to jail. I just want him to stop doing what he is doing and make people aware of what is going on."
She said the man didn't have a brochure or anything with official writing on it from GMHC.
Another neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said the man has appeared at her door on three or four occasions over the past six months, saying he is collecting for children with AIDS. She has handed him a total of about $100 in cash, she said.
"He's a pathetic-looking guy," she said. "I feel he needs some serious help."
When asked about the man, a GMHC official said, "It's a complete scam."
"Who does a walk in December?" asked Marty Algaze, a spokesman for GMHC. "Not in this part of the country they don't."
GMHC officials said a man saying he was collecting money for AIDS babies and using the GMHC name has been conning people into giving him money on Broadway in Manhattan. But they are not sure if it is the same man operating scamming in Lawrence.
Formed in 1982, GMHC, the largest and oldest AIDS organization in the country, seeing 9,000 clients a year, does no door-to-door canvassing and reaches out to contributors through direct mail and major benefits such as the spring AIDS Walk. But it is not unusual for some walkers to get sponsors to pledge money by going door-to-door, officials said. The group has a $20 million budget and is an easy target for scam artists who use its name because it is so well-known.
Mr. Algaze said such organizations as GMHC only want to receive donations by check or credit card so they can keep records of the contributions.
The GMHC said it is all for getting the word out about the work of scam artists but is fearful of scaring away potential donors. "This is what is making us so concerned about it," said Mr. Algaze.
Captain Richard McCarrick of the Fourth Precinct said people should check credentials carefully before donating money to anyone. That may mean calling up the organization while the person is waiting at the door. If you suspect anything suspicious, call 911, the captain added.
"We'll send a car to check it out," Captain McCarrick said.
He said that before Linda M.'s complaint, he had no knowledge of anyone using GMHC to play a con game in this area. He added that police are investigating.
Linda M. described the man as thin, white, 40 to 45 years old and "very sad looking and very convincing, too."
