Santa Doug Scammed: Your Help Matters

Santa Got Scammed!

Please help my friend and neighbor, Doug!

Over many years, Doug McKechnie has worn many hats. As an early synthesizer pioneer, he was one of the first to take the legendary Moog synth out of the laboratory and into performance spaces all over the SF Bay Area. As a composer, he’s created music for an Oscar-winning film and helped make a symphony out of sampling the sounds of the Golden Gate Bridge. As a Catalytic Agent, he’s helped connect various dots for creative ensembles ranging from The Grateful Dead to New Vaudevillian legends i Fratelli Bologna, to the folks at the Marsh Cabaret. As a big guy in a red suit, he’s also spent his Decembers as everybody’s favorite Santa.

But Doug just got a new hat: Scam Victim. He doesn’t like it, and it’s hurting his head. Doug was honestly just trying to help when he responded to a legitimate-looking text from his bank. The guy he ended up talking to answered all the right questions. Long story short, Doug is out $9,100, including the $6,300 that the scammers charged to his credit card. His bank won’t help him. The cops can’t help him. The FDIC has enough on its plate, and the folks at 7 On Your Side won’t even return his phone calls. Doug got ripped off. We’re not talking billions here, but we are talking about enough to put things uncomfortably close to the edge at this point in his life.

Doug isn’t asking for a lot. In fact, he’s embarrassed to be asking for anything. But he could use your support right now—to help pay some bills, get some food on the table, and fill in the gaps made when—in a moment of weakness—he fell prey to a phishing scam that could have touched any of us.

If you can pitch in a bit to help Doug, you won’t just be helping a good friend.

You’ll be helping Santa.