Woman Attacked and Kidnapped While Volunteering for Holiday Toy Drive
One woman’s holiday turned into a nightmare when a scammer posing as a holiday toy drive donor attacked and kidnapped her.
Erin Quinn, a volunteer for a local holiday toy drive in southern California, received a text message from an unknown number claiming to be a donor. The scammer, who called herself Connie, offered to donate gifts and provided an address for Quinn to pick up the donations.
When Quinn arrived at the address, she received a message instructing her to wait in her car for the donations to be brought out. However, upon returning to her vehicle, Quinn was attacked by a woman who shocked her with a Taser and ordered her to start driving.
After being tased multiple times, Quinn crashed the vehicle about 25 minutes into the drive. She managed to fight off her attacker, who she later recognized as her former housekeeper, Olga Mendez.
Quinn was able to escape with the help of a bystander, suffering bruises, taser burns, hair loss, and broken nails in the process. She believes her attacker intended to kidnap her and take her across the border.
Quinn’s friend set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to support her recovery, which has raised $1,890 of its $8,000 goal so far.
