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Dozens of seniors promised free soul food meals by scammer who asked for Social Security numbers

Posted at 6:43 PM, Nov 02, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-03 10:23:33-04

Dozens of residents at the Thompson Tower and Twin Towers Apartments in Inkster say they were scammed out of their most personal information.

The victims believe senior and disabled tenants were targeted.

A week ago, residents say they received flyers on their cars stating they were entitled to soul food meals 5 days a week.

Shari Poole, the Thompson Tower community outreach director and a tenant, contacted the man behind the flyers.

A man who called himself Elston came to the low income apartments. He flashed a badge and seemed legit to residents.

He said he could hook Ms. Poole and other residents up with hot meals through Medicare if they would provide their social security number.

About 30 to 40 tenants did just that. Some were asked to provide their mother's maiden name.

The man was supposed to return with delicious dinners days ago but he never showed up. Now, his voicemail is full.

Residents are left feeling violated. Today, they called police.

“Very violated, because I don’t do this,” said Poole. "I don’t do this and they are saying its not my fault but it is because they got through me to get to them and that’s why I’m hurt."

"I work for them everyday," she said. "And I’m good to them. I would never do anything to jeopardize them and I also have a brother here. I would never do that. So it hurts me that they are hurt now."

Ms. Poole has a warning for others: "Don’t fall for everything that says free or that it doesn’t cost you because down the road it’s going to cost you in some kind of way,” she said.

She advises if you have fallen victim to this type of scam to call Social Security or Medicare right away.