By Bill Brayer, President/CEO
MS Helping Hands

This article is to warn you about what can happen to your bank account. Our organization, Edmonds-based MS Helping Hands-MSHH, received a phone call from a man in Spokane, asking me why and how we withdrew $29.95 from his bank account. I identified who I was and said that I had no idea what he was talking about. I had never heard of him nor do we have access to his bank account. His bank statement showed the transaction with an 800 telephone number. MSHH does not now — nor did it ever have — an 800 telephones number.

We talked for quite a while and I suggested he contact his bank about this fraudulent activity. He warned me that I might be getting more calls of this nature.

Shortly after that, I received an email from a woman asking me the same question. I told her of the previous call and also advised her to contact her bank. I expect to receive more emails or phone calls. As of this original posting, MSHH has received many more calls.

While I don’t know how this happened, it’s possible that someone may have opened an account at a bank using our trademarked MS Helping Hands-MSHH name but with an 800 telephone number. They may have also illegally accessed people’s financial information and transferred a relatively small amount — $29.95 — into that fake MS Helping Hands account.

I alerted our local bank and the Edmonds Police Department but there really isn’t too much they can do. Our bank will watch for unusual activity and let us know if they see any.

If you notice a $29.95 withdrawal on your bank statement associated with MS Helping Hands-MSHH, located in Edmonds, Wash., let your bank know it is fraudulent. Your bank can track to where the money was transferred to.

MS Helping Hands-MSHH is a stand-alone nonprofit 501 (c) (3) corporation licensed and registered in the State of Washington and is not part of, nor affiliated with, any other local or national Multiple Sclerosis organization. We are also known as the MSHH Donor Closet located at 409 Howell Way.