Overview

• The reported incidents occurred last weekend in the parking lots of a Whole Foods on Harrison Avenue in the South End and a Walgreens on East Broadway in South Boston.
• Victims said they were surrounded or boxed in, with suspects briefly seizing their phones and bank cards after approaching under the guise of collecting donations.
• The ruse involved claims of fundraising for a shot child or a recently deceased brother, with transactions run through Square, Venmo, or other tap-to-pay devices.
• Losses included a $5,000 charge in one case, a bank-confirmed $15,000 attempt with $5,000 withdrawn and another $5,000 blocked, and a separate $4,000 authorization text.
• Police described the suspects as three men ages 30 to 40, including one with 'RED' tattooed above his left eyebrow, and asked the public to contact detectives or CrimeStoppers with tips.