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<p>ASHLEY &#8212; Police would like to alert local charities and churches to be aware of potential scams when receiving requests for holiday donations.</p><p>One such incident happened earlier this month.</p><p>On Tuesday, the pastor of the Centenary United Methodist Church in Ashley reported to police that he was contacted approximately a week ago by a man who said his wife was sick and that they were seeking Wegmans or Giant Foods gift cards and toys for their children. The pastor was able to raise $700 worth of gift cards and toys for the family.</p><p>While organizing the gifts, the pastor received a follow-up phone call from the man, who pressed him on the status of the gifts. When the pastor attempted to gain further information, the man told him he was &#8220;asking too many questions.&#8221;</p><p>The pastor told the man to meet him at the church to pick up the gifts. The pastor conducted an internet search of the man and discovered that he allegedly perpetrated a similar scam in Uxbridge, Massachusetts in 2014.</p><p>The police were notified and waited with the pastor at the church for the man, but he never arrived. The pastor contacted the man via cell phone, but the man said that he wasn&#8217;t coming for the gifts because he had a &#8220;bad feeling.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Ashley police warn of potential holiday donation scams