News: Scam rips $16,000 worth of tickets from Six Flags Great America

Posted at 3:27 PM EST (2027 GMT)

Oct. 31st, 2006 -- The request for the 600 tickets came in late May from a man claiming to be from Choice for Choices, according to Great America spokesperson James Taylor.

Because many charities don't have enough cash to pay up front for outing tickets, Taylor said, Great America followed a previous practice and sent the 600 tickets for Choice for Choices to a Chicago address.

Taylor said nearly all the tickets were used on dates between May 27 and 31, but the payment never arrived. The amusement park turned to police for help a couple of weeks ago.

"Charitable organizations out there should not worry," Taylor said. "We’re still going to do business with them."

It is not known if there really is a Choice for Choices, which was portrayed as a charitable organization doing work with children. Great America has since become "very careful" about distributing tickets to charities before a payment is received, Taylor said Monday.