Smith: Scammers said they were helping Sonoma County fire victims, but used their stolen credit cards
Reed's Trailer Sales has sold about 100 recreational vehicles to fire survivors -- at wholesale cost.
"It was the right thing to do," said Ann, whose mind replays the "story after story after story" she heard from people who fled the flames and returned to devastation.
Within this post-disaster business environment, it didn't seem unusual for a customer to phone and say he operates food trucks in
He wanted eight generators. Reed's parts-and-service department said it could round up six. The caller said he'd send employees over to pay for and pick up the generators, which cost
A man and a woman showed up, spoke about the food-truck mission and used two credit cards to purchase the generators, hookups and oil, for a total of more than
Not long later, Reed's received notices from credit card companies: The cards used for the sales had been stolen -- from victims of the firestorms.
"It felt," said
Ann shares security-camera photos of the scammers because she'd like to help other businesses avoid being cheated by them. Also, she believes that for them to be caught would, "in the long run," be good for them.
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JACKSON AND PATRICK are buddies at
Before the Tubbs fire,
When the fires struck, the teens rushed to assist at
This past Saturday, Patrick and Jackson were among the
The morning of
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HUGH AND MILTON: A little bell rang in
The news story reminded Reg, who for decades was an exec with
The Coddings and Friedmans were vacation-home neighbors at
Reg recalls that as Milton elaborated on an economic theory at the table, Hugh announced to him, "I don't understand a thing you are saying. I'm illiterate, you know."
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