Beware of the tulip scam

SOUTH BEND, Ind. --  Beware of the tulip scam!  The Better Business Bureau is speaking out to warn folks in South Bend not to give money to two young men claiming to be selling tulips for their basketball team.

Better Business Bureau Area Director Dreama Jensen has been getting calls since Monday about two boys going door to door selling tulips trying to raise money for new basketball uniforms around Ironwood Drive and the Mishawaka Avenue.

“They state that it is a fundraiser for the boys basketball team of John Adams High School,” said Jensen.

But Jensen smelled something fishy about this fundraiser.

“One person wrote a check and made a contribution on Saturday and the boys came back and said we can’t accept checks.  We just need cash,” said Jensen.

So she called the John Adams athletic director to get to the bottom of this tulip scam.

“He verified that absolutely not.  They are not conducting a fundraiser of any kind,” said Jensen.

Jensen said there is one big clue that made it apparent to her that this fundraiser was phony and schools fundraisers would rather be paid by a check.

“They prefer to have checks over money and we can all understand why. Cash can easily be lost and when it is lost. It is lost,” said Jensen.

Jensen wants to warn others before they fall victim.

“Bottom line is, it is a scam because Adams High School is not conducting a fundraiser,” said Jensen.

Jensen also said there are a few ways you can protect yourself against scam artists.  She said always ask for a school ID and give a call to the Better Business Bureau to see if it is the real deal.