LEWISTON — In her GoFundMe campaign, Heather Coulombe set a financial goal of $1,100, the amount she’d lost in a rental scam earlier in the week.
At about 1 p.m. Thursday, that goal was reached, thanks to dozens of donations that rolled in after the scam story broke.
“You guys are awesome,” Coulombe wrote on the GoFundMe page. “I am so grateful.”
The night before, Lorretta Pottle reported similar news — after having lost about $1,000 to the scam, Pottle said donations put her back in the black and she was able to make new living arrangements for her family.
It was hard not to be impressed.
“I am really just thunderstruck at the quick response,” said Steve O. Gagne, who worked all week to help Coulombe recover. “We had other single moms donating 10-20 bucks and leaving messages of support and encouragement. Several people donated over a hundred each, which in our community is honestly hard to come by. I am so proud of my neighbors right now. Nothing ‘Dirty Lew’ about that!”
There is, however, the matter of the man accused of conning Coulombe, Pottle and possibly several others through a scheme in which he collected rent money for property he didn’t own.
Police say they have a suspect in the matter and they would like the man to come forward.
“We’re certainly interested in hearing his side of the story,” said Lewiston police Lt. David St. Pierre.
As of Thursday afternoon, however. there whereabouts of that man remained unknown. On Facebook, several threads were dedicated to finding him, with some people posting reports on where the suspect was last seen at all hours of the day.
The scam itself was simple, according to those close to the victims. After the suspect’s friends were evicted from a Main Street apartment, the suspect posted a listing on social media that advertised the apartment for rent. With the help of his friends, he was able to show the apartment to potential tenants, giving the appearance that he was the property owner.
Coulombe and Pottle fell for the scam, and police believe there may have been several others.
“These con men,” said Gagne, “have no place in our community.”
The goal was met Wednesday night in Lorretta Pottle’s GoFundMe campaign.
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