POLK COUNTY, Fla. — The director for a Polk County charity says thieves targeted their bank account taking nearly $30,000.
"What kind of Grinch would steal from children who don't even have parents?" Sandy Toledo, Director of Polk County Christmas Angels, said.
Toledo's charity has been operating since 1969. It provides gifts mainly for children in the foster care system. Toledo says they get gifts for about 2,000 children every year.
Toledo noticed the charity's Bank of America account was more than $3,000 in the red this weekend.
"We should have had $27,000 in it," she said.
Toledo immediately contacted the bank. She says the fraud department believes it appears the money was spent overseas. Her personal account was also targeted. She says $2,000 was taken from her own Bank of America account.
Toledo says Bank of America is handling the situation well. Still, she doesn't know if, or when, the charity will be reimbursed.
"I don't know how long it will take. It could be months. It could be a year to go through this fraud case. We have to get these children their gifts," she said.
Donations can be sent to P.O. Box 4, Lakeland, FL 33802. Toledo says donors can also call her at (863) 602-1665.
