Big Bend warns against fraud

People with info urged to contact police

MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College is urging area businesses to be on the lookout for a possible business fraud.

According to Catherine Holestine, the college's public information officer, an individual identified as Jay Lloyd of Oregon is contacting downtown businesses and claiming to be working with the college in putting together a spring sports program and soliciting money for advertisements.

The man is apparently soliciting anywhere from $50 to $100 as a ballpark figure.

"This is not a Big Bend publication, it's not endorsed by Big Bend and we don't know there's a publication at all," Holestine said. "The problem is, he's actually getting money from these businesses."

Typically in a partnership with an institution, anyone working would have a signed letter from the athletic director saying so, she said, noting the community college works on programs and posters for the basketball season, in which case a business would be contacted by an employee of the college or the printing company.

The first incident of which Holestine is aware took place the week before Christmas. She received another telephone call Wednesday morning from a business approached by the man.

The college is asking the businesses the man has approached to call the police.

Moses Lake Police Captain Jim Jenkins said the police department has received only one complaint. Not enough information was provided to conduct an investigation, he said.

Jenkins urged anyone with information to call 509-762-1160 and ask to speak with an officer.

Holestine said the college did not call the police, because they have not been contacted by the individual.

"The biggest concern we have is we don't want people spending money thinking they're getting money to benefit the college and then being unhappy with the college for not following through," she said. "This is not a college publication. We do these types of publications, and we rely heavily on the community for support of both publication and our athletic events and we enjoy the community's participation, but we also don't want the community to get caught up in a fraudulent act."