A simple knock at the door turned into a high-tech con in Allen County last week—and now, neighbors are sounding the alarm. What looked like a young man fundraising for education ended up being a credit card scam that cost victims thousands before they even realized what happened.

Kevin Sunthimer was one of the first to speak out after catching the incident on his doorbell camera and discovering a suspicious $1,200 charge on his credit card minutes after the encounter.

A Friendly Face, a Grocery Basket, and a Bad Feeling

It all started like any other Friday morning.

Kevin heard the doorbell, peeked outside, and saw a young man holding a grocery basket filled with candy bars. Nothing unusual at first glance—just someone selling snacks for a fundraiser, or so he thought.

“I opened the door and said, ‘Hello, can I help you?’ and he turned around and said he was from the University of Purdue,” Kevin explained. “He said it was a special fundraiser for education.”

He seemed polite. Confident, even. But then things started to feel a bit off.

Payment Terms That Didn’t Add Up

Kevin didn’t think much of it until the conversation turned to payment. Cash was fine for donations, the man said—but if you wanted to buy a chocolate bar, you had to use a credit or debit card.

That part stuck in Kevin’s mind. “It was weird,” he said. “Why wouldn’t they just take cash for the chocolate?”

Still, wanting to support what sounded like a student fundraiser, Kevin handed over his card. The bars were $10 each. He figured he’d help out and grab a snack in the process.

But the transaction wasn’t what it seemed.

From $10 to Over $1,000 in Minutes

Kevin didn’t even have time to unwrap the candy before things took a turn.

“Ten minutes after he left, I got an alert from the bank,” he said. “There was a charge of over $1,100 from a vendor I didn’t recognize.”

He was stunned. Shocked, really. He hadn’t bought anything close to that price.

Thankfully, Kevin moved quickly. He called the bank, explained the situation, and got the transaction reversed.

But not everyone was so lucky.

More Victims Step Forward on Nextdoor

Once Kevin posted the story and a screenshot of his doorbell footage on the Nextdoor app, responses poured in.

One neighbor said she’d been hit by the same scam—and lost $1,200. Another had nearly entered their card before hesitating at the last second. Several said they remembered the same man with the candy basket.

Kevin’s footage confirmed the man’s appearance: young, clean-cut, and dressed in casual clothes. Nothing out of the ordinary.

But he wasn’t from Purdue. There was no fundraiser.

Here’s what others shared on the app after Kevin’s post:

• “He came to our door, too. I told him we don’t use cards for door sales. He looked irritated and left.”

• “Same guy! He said the same thing about Purdue. So glad I didn’t give him my card.”

• “I bought two bars with cash. Now I’m worried he was just casing the house.”

How the Scam Works—And Why It’s So Effective

This kind of scam isn’t new, but it’s evolved. The use of mobile card readers and fake vendor apps makes it easy for scammers to charge way more than what’s agreed upon—without raising suspicion in the moment.

Here’s a breakdown of what typically happens:

The scam preys on goodwill. Most people want to support young people doing something positive. That’s what makes it so dangerous—it feels safe.

What Authorities and Residents Are Saying

So far, no arrests have been made. Allen County Sheriff’s Department is aware of the reports but hasn’t confirmed whether an official investigation has been launched.

In the meantime, neighbors are staying alert. Kevin’s Nextdoor post has been shared dozens of times, and some have even printed out stills from his footage to tape near their front doors.

One resident, who asked not to be named, put it bluntly: “We’ve always been a trusting neighborhood. That changes now.”