April 24, 2020
By News Director Jared Atha
Altus Police are warning area residents of a possible scam artist going door to door soliciting money.
According to police the individual is being described as being pushy and that he was working on behalf of the “Literacy Outreach” company based in Comanche and Jackson Counties, and that he was taking donations for COVID-19 relief.
Police say they did make contact with the individual in question. The individual claims that the Oklahoma Governor was aware of his mission.
After further investigation, it was later learned that the individual had received numerous donations from local citizens that consisted of cash and checks, and that credit card payments were made to his website. It was also later discovered that this individual had been working with at least two other subjects that were soliciting money throughout neighborhoods in Altus. None of the subjects had a city permit to be soliciting Altus residents, and the Altus Police have reason to believe that this particular campaign is fraudulent.
Altus Police encourage anyone who made a check donation to contact their local financial institution to have the check canceled. Altus Police further encourage anyone who made a donation to these individuals claiming it to be for COVID-19 relief or for the “Literacy Outreach” program to contact the Altus Police Department.
