Kendal Verdez Johnson Verdez Johnson...Verdez Johnson and the S and F Experience Kendal Verdez Johnson, Assistant Bank Manager at Bank of America in Atlanta, Commits Fundraising Scam Atlanta Internet

On August 15, 2014, Kendal "Verdez" Johnson, formerly the manager at the Atlantic Station LA Fitness and now the Assistant Manager at the Bank of America on Peachtree near Lenox Mall in Atlanta, asked me, a customer at LA Fitness, if I would support his band, the S and F Experience, in their fundraising efforts.  Verdez stated that his band was in a "neck on neck" contest with other groups to raise the most money and that the group that raised the most funds would win a trip to Jamaica coming up in December 2014. 

When I asked him how much the coupon books were, he stated that they were $75 and $150.  I purchased one for $75.  I thought the price was steep, but I had watched his band, the S and F Experience,  play at the Twelve Lobby at Atlantic Station where they have a steady gig and decided to give my support, especially since I tend to eat out a lot with friends.  I knew that over time I would get a good use  out of the coupon book.  He asked for cash and I declined, letting him know that I always perform financial transactions in a form that can be verified and recorded.  He stated that I would have my coupon book the following Friday. Every Friday I asked about my coupon book and he always had an excuse for the absence of my product. He would then push the date back to the following Friday.  It is now almost three months later.  I still do not have my coupon book.  When I asked him about my book one month ago, he became irritated at me and said "Don't worry about it.  I got you!"

To add insult to injury, he then totally forgot about the coupon book and sent me a text asking me  to loan him $200.00 for two days. He then stated that if I loaned him $200.00 that he would pay me back $300.00! What am I now, a loan shark? Who does that? That was a glaring red flag.  Someone who promises something so outrageous has no intention of following through. After I declined to give him a loan AND asked for my money back from the "fundraiser," I never heard from him again.

I recently sent him a text on what I hope is still his phone number requesting my money back.  I have not received a response.  I have heard of fundraising scams committed against other people.  I just never thought that someone I knew would use their position of trust and authority (manager at LA Fitness) to commit fraud against me so blatantly.  I have waited an appropriate amount of time before posting this because I know this is serious.  I was hoping he would just give me back my money or produce the product.  But I know now that the product never existed and that I was a victim of a scam.  And he was so smooth about it that I now feel as if he  may have done this or something like this many times before.  However, I can't verify that. 

What's funny about this is that if this person had been honest with me about being hard up for money, I would have GIVEN him the money without expecting it back.  But this is too egregious to walk away from because his  story was so elaborate and he looked me in the face every time I saw him at the gym and lied.  And to think that he now manages money at a bank! Beware of this individual and any financial transactions with him.  Please see the attached picture of my returned check showing the check I wrote to him for his "fundraiser."  If I ever get my money back or my coupon book, I will be happy to post an update. 

Peace out.