Katie Hardman’s first thought when she received an order on the 1st for 150 grilled chicken salads was that someone was playing an April Fool’s Day prank on her.
In her experience operating KatieDids Cafe and Catering, 69821 M-62, Edwardsburg, even if someone placed such a large party order, it wouldn’t be for one food item, but a variety of dishes.
“We could tell from the get-go” the elaborate scheme reportedly made by a man named “John Rodwell” targeting small businesses didn’t quite add up, she said Tuesday, from “John Rodwell’s” references to “carrier agents” and “couriers” to him supposedly calling from an intensive care unit, where he was receiving hearing treatment for $950.
Then he brought wiring money through Western Union into the web he was weaving, and offered by email, apparently, stolen credit cards from five different banks.
“He kept sending numbers over and over until he realized I was on to him,” said Hardman, who filed a police report Friday with the Ontwa Township Edwardsburg Police Department. She also contacted Western Union, the issuing banks — and the media.
The police department was not available for comment.