JERRY CITY – Elmwood Schools is trying to minimize the damage from a report that students are scamming
area residents.
The Findlay Police Department took at least one report Tuesday regarding some subjects that were in the
area collecting donations.
The subjects stated that they were athletes from Elmwood High School and the funds were being collected
for a dying teacher at that school. After some checking it was found that there is no such teacher at
the school.
"We believe that there may be numerous victims in and around Northwest Ohio," according to the
Findlay Police Facebook page.
Elmwood Superintendent Tony Borton said today that high school Principal Tom Bentley received a phone
call Monday from a Findlay resident who donated a small amount of money but was now suspicious.
The students were in athletic jackets and were asking for donations for a teacher who had cancer, but
Borton said he’s also heard it was for a coach or a coach’s wife.
The district checked with the athletic department and learned there was no truth to the claims.
"We know of a few (students) at this point, we’re hearing two or three," Borton stated.
He added that the accused are all underclassmen.
The students will be facing school discipline, but Borton could not comment to what degree.
"It’s not school rules anymore, it’s police rules," he said.
He was particularly displeased at the black eye the students’ stunt now gives the district.
If students have a legitimate fundraiser and go to someone’s door, he’s afraid people will think it’s a
scam.
"It makes it more difficult for us to fundraise," he said.
He indicated that students now will be given letters to show residents that a fundraiser is legitimate.

Borton indicated he has heard of Elmwood and Findlay residents being approached as well as some in
Fostoria, but that has not been confirmed.
He said the scam could have been going on up to a month.
The district’s school resource officer has been notified and the case has been turned over to the Wood
County Sheriff’s Office.
There was no comment from the sheriff’s office because it is an open case.
Anyone who is a victim of this scam should contact local law enforcement agency with any information that
might assist in getting this activity stopped.