Good Samaritan Falls Victim to Debit Card Fraud After Trying to Donate

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A woman in North Olmsted, Ohio reported being the victim of debit card fraud after attempting to donate $20 to a family in need. The woman said two men approached her outside a grocery store, claiming to be collecting donations, and her debit card was later used to make two $500 charges. Police are investigating two similar incidents that occurred in the area.

Why it matters

This story highlights the growing problem of donation scams that target good Samaritans, exploiting their generosity for personal gain. It also raises awareness about the importance of being cautious when making charitable donations, especially in-person, to avoid falling victim to fraud.

The details

According to the police report, the woman was approached outside a Giant Eagle grocery store on March 3 by two men who said they were collecting donations for the family of a young man who had recently been killed. The woman tried to donate $20 using her debit and credit cards, but the men said the transactions were not going through. She then handed over a $20 bill. Shortly after, the woman received a fraud alert from Chase Bank, indicating two $500 pending charges on her debit card. She immediately locked both her accounts and reported the incident to the police.

• The incident occurred on the afternoon of March 3, 2026.
• Two similar incidents were reported on March 2, 2026 outside a grocery store on Great Northern Boulevard in North Olmsted, and in Fairview Park.

What’s next

The North Olmsted Police Department has referred the case to its detective bureau for further investigation. Chase Bank is also working to reverse the fraudulent charges and return the money to the victim.