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 Several folks joined in to help paint the house of Marian Stallings, 84, after she had fallen victim to a scam. The painting was complete in two days. (Submitted photo) [Click to enlarge] |
"You're still thinking about it, aren't you?" asked Marian Stallings, 84. "Don't you worry about me!"
"Well, yes, I'm still thinking about it, how could I forget?" replied Shelbyville police officer Carol Jean.
Jean made a visit to check on Stallings, who has lived in Shelbyville for more than 50 years, on Wednesday.
Stallings had recently fallen victim to a scam in which she was told she had won a Jamaican lottery. In an attempt to get her winnings, however, Stallings sent hundreds of dollars overseas for what she was told were "insurance" purposes.
"If you have to send money to get money, you're not getting anything," said Jean, noting that all too often, the elderly, like Stallings, are taken advantage of by scam artists.
In May, a Food Lion clerk filed a report with the Shelbyville Police Department claiming Stallings had been wiring money overseas to insure the delivery of her lottery winnings.
At this time, Jean went to check on Stallings and told her not to send any more money. However, after threatening phone calls continued, Stallings got scared and wired more money from a different location in Shelbyville.
A couple days later, a neighbor of Stallings notified the police that Stallings had sent more money.
When the police visited the victim this time, Stallings admitted that she was only trying to retrieve her winnings so she could get her S. Cannon Boulevard house painted. With her husband in a nursing home and no children or family to help her out, Stallings was hoping the lottery would provide the help she was needing.
"This tore me up," Jean said. "The elderly are picked on ... They are really vulnerable."
 Marian Stallings hoped to use the money she was told she won in a 'Jamaican lottery' scam to have her house painted. ( Photo submitted) [Click to enlarge] |
Next, Jean planned to see if any churches would be interested in helping with the paint job. But when Pam Smith, a local painter, heard of the situation, she offered to have her crew do all the painting.
Shelbyville Lumber Co. also jumped on board and donated lumber to repair some steps outside Stallings' home. Quality Roofing Co. agreed to repair the steps, and the Friendship Class of First United Methodist Church donated money for uncovered supplies and costs.
Boyce Auto Repair, a business near Stallings' home, offered to let painters use its water hook-up so the house could be pressure washed before painting.
Several folks put forth a little elbow grease and, two days later, Stallings' home looked as good as new.
"It was wonderful," said Stallings, of the good deed. "And I owe it all to her (Officer Jean). She's an angel. At first I said to myself, when I found out (about the paint), 'Is this true?'"
Stallings' home may look like new, and she's changed her phone number, but that doesn't mean she has forgotten about what happened.
She received a letter a few days ago from the same scammers, asking for more money.
"I threw it away!" she told Jean.
Enclosed with the letter was a necklace, which Jean said was simply to continue to try and bait her into sending more money. The scam artists even told Stallings that if she didn't have any cash, she could send them her Social Security checks.
"(The necklace) is supposed to bring me good luck," Stallings said.
Stallings' advice to the other potential scam victims: "Don't do it, and throw (letters) away!"
In the past, Stallings' husband had always handled their finances. She has undertaken the responsibility on her own since her 90-year-old husband went into the nursing home a few months ago.
Jean said that elderly folks should not be afraid to call the police or the Better Business Bureau if they need assistance or think something seems a little strange.
"They need to know that if 'their bank' calls them and asks for their Social Security number, it's not their bank," Jean said. "Don't give your personal information out to anyone. The people who need it already have it.
"If it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck ..."
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Way to go, Carol Jean! You're a great example of how a police officer or any public official should be! What a wonderful dedication you show to the public! And congrats to all others who contributed to a person in need! That's the way the world is supposed to be!
This what a community should do take care of each other. Great job Carol Jean and all the others that gave there time and money. Makes me proud to see this kind of effort and to call these people my neighbors.
This is a great story and something we should be reading about more often. Instead of spending so much time tearing each other down, we should work toward building each other up and make our town a better community.
I have know Carol Jean for many years and she is an outstanding person and I am not surprised at all that she would do something like this. Yes and thank you to all those that donated their time, money, and supplies to help. It is wonderful to know that there are still good people that think more of others than themselves.
How refreshing to see a LOCAL story of LOCAL people helping a LOCAL neighbor in need.
No FEMA or any other alphabet government soup involved.
Just people helping one of ours in need.
Great job all !!
if we had more officers like carol jean this town would be alright. but people are only out for thereselves. just to draw a paycheck and thats it. it is a shame that someone has to be scamed just to get help from someone. what is the world coming to. carol jean keep up the great work. dont change stay supportive of others.
Great job Officer Jean and great job to all those that helped. This is what America is about.
Carol Jean is by far the BEST officer Shelbyville Police Dept has and they should feel lucky to have her as an employee. I knew this long before she did this great service to Mrs. Stallings.
Way To Go Carol Jean!!!! We may not always show you but we truly appreciate you!
THATS SO GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY WOULD DONATE ALL THEIR TIME HELPING THE ELDERLY I THINK HIGHLY OF A COMMUNITY PROJECT SUCH AS SHELBYVILLE GOD WATCHES FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE FOR THE ELDERLY THERE'S A SPECIAL PLACE IN HEAVEN FOR EACH AND EVERY PERSON THAT HELPED THAT POOR ELDERLY WOMAN OUT....
I have known Carol Jean for several years. She has always been a very compassionate, caring officer. Even when she was with the Lewisburg PD, she always gave 110%. We are so fortunate to have her back in our city. Also, kudos to those who helped fix the house as well as those who reported the suspcious activity. All too often we turn a blind eye...just goes to show what can happen when we look out for each other!
that poor lady. I am so glad that their are people that help also. Thank god we have good officers that help and compassionate people in the town. It really makes a differance.