Elderly victim of scam gifted money

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - An 88-year-old Portsmouth man who reported he was scammed out of $700 earlier this month received a special surprise from a local church.

Charlie White said two men came to his home pretending to be from banks. The men told White someone from his family robbed Wachovia Banks, and told him they wanted to compare serial numbers on White's money with serial numbers of bills they claimed were stolen.

Members of the Baptist Church in Virginia Beach presented White with more than $1,000 Tuesday.

"We came back to give you even more than what you lost," said a church member as he was presenting the money to White. "Sir, we want to present you with a check today and just tell you that even though there are some people out here doing some bad things, there are a group of believers at Ebineezer that wanted to be a blessing in your life."

White expressed his gratitude.

"I want to thank each one of them and I know that God is going to continue to bless them because people usually don't give money away," White said.