cybervampira
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2014
- Messages
- 15,973
- Reaction score
- 83,881
San Clemente woman suspected of fabricating firefighter husband to collect cash, donations – Orange County Register
A San Clemente woman with a history of alleged bizarre scams, including a faked pregnancy, is suspected of creating a nonexistent husband to bilk good Samaritans out of at least $11,000 in donations she claimed would help firefighters during the recent Holy fire, authorities said Friday.
Ashley Bemis, 28, collected cash and hundreds of items — such as food, clothing and blankets — in the scheme uncovered after victims began complaining on Facebook, Orange County sheriff’s Lt. Mike Peters said.
“The scam involved the elaborate support of social media postings to add credibility to the fictitious information,” he said. “It was well-planned.”
As detectives interviewed those acquainted with Bemis, they began to uncover details of her past deceptions.
Quinn Bork of San Clemente told investigators he and his wife, Starla, threw a baby shower for Bemis in 2012. A few months later the couple learned Bemis had faked the pregnancy to receive free gifts that could be sold.
Another witness, Emily Strickland reported to detectives that in 2011 she hired Bemis as a nanny to care for her son. Then in mid-2012, Strickland was horrified to see photos of her son dressed as a girl on Bemis’ Facebook page, and a post from Bemis claiming the picture was that of her own daughter, Cheyanne.
A San Clemente woman with a history of alleged bizarre scams, including a faked pregnancy, is suspected of creating a nonexistent husband to bilk good Samaritans out of at least $11,000 in donations she claimed would help firefighters during the recent Holy fire, authorities said Friday.
Ashley Bemis, 28, collected cash and hundreds of items — such as food, clothing and blankets — in the scheme uncovered after victims began complaining on Facebook, Orange County sheriff’s Lt. Mike Peters said.
“The scam involved the elaborate support of social media postings to add credibility to the fictitious information,” he said. “It was well-planned.”
As detectives interviewed those acquainted with Bemis, they began to uncover details of her past deceptions.
Quinn Bork of San Clemente told investigators he and his wife, Starla, threw a baby shower for Bemis in 2012. A few months later the couple learned Bemis had faked the pregnancy to receive free gifts that could be sold.
Another witness, Emily Strickland reported to detectives that in 2011 she hired Bemis as a nanny to care for her son. Then in mid-2012, Strickland was horrified to see photos of her son dressed as a girl on Bemis’ Facebook page, and a post from Bemis claiming the picture was that of her own daughter, Cheyanne.
