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Woman accused of scamming money from man she knew through church

A Rock Island woman is accused of scamming more than $100,000 from a 78-year-old East Moline man she met at a local church.

EAST MOLINE, Illinois - A Rock Island woman is accused of scamming more than $100,000 from a 78-year-old East Moline man she met at a local church.

Felica Howard, 44, was accused of faking cancer and a divorce to get the money.

Police said Howard met the man in 2013 at a church in Moline, Illinois.  The man gave money to Howard for two years, to help her with problems that included alleged cancer treatment, medications, and a pending divorce.

"Through investigation by the East Moline Police Department it was determined that these stories were false, to include that Howard had not been diagnosed or treated for cancer as she purported," said a spokesman for the East Moline Police Department.

"Frequently seniors are targeted by scams that invoke emotional responses such as charitable causes, foreign lotteries or unclaimed inheritance," the spokesman said.  "Safe charitable contributions can be made to reputable and documented non-profit organizations.  Additionally, avoid giving or sending cash to individuals."

Howard was charged February 23, 2016 with felony theft by deception.  She was held in the Rock Island County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.

 

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