Scam has happy ending

Jackson County Sheriff Lou Roberts managed to work some good out of a bad situation this week, with area high school graduates benefitting from the effort.
It started when a local woman found herself in the middle of a scam.
She was working from home for an outfit that had her packaging and shipping a wide array of goods, like laptop computers, iPods, phones, jewelry and other equipment.
The good job turned bad when she received billing information from a credit card company. It came to her address, but there was another name on the card.
She called local law enforcement, and investigators started working the case as shipments kept arriving at her home.
They seized about $25,000-worth of equipment and are trying to reunite the merchandise with the vendors. Because the scammers appear to be working outside the country, it may be difficult to track down the parties responsible. But that effort is ongoing.
The credit card company involved in certain shipments has already declared a loss, and told law enforcement they could distribute the goods to a charitable organization.
With that, Roberts decided to give the materials to Jackson County high schools’ Project Graduation programs. They will be given out as door prizes at the Project Graduation parties at Marianna, Malone, Sneads, Graceville and Cottondale high schools in a few days.
Each school got one full-size iPod and one iPod Nano to give away. Marianna High, because it has a significantly larger population of students graduating, got an extra set.
A drawing was held Thursday to decide which two schools would get a couple of iPhones that the credit card company released. The lucky winners were Graceville and Malone high schools.
School officials and volunteer parents who turned out to receive the items were especially grateful. The economic downturn, they said, has resulted in fewer donations this year for their Project Graduation parties. The events keep grads off the streets on graduation night and, supporters say, likely save many lives.
The combined value of the items donated Thursday was estimated at $2,000.