Man named in 'scam alert' tells his side of the story


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SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City police have warned residents about a man going door-to-door soliciting charitable donations for an organization he does not represent — the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake.

The man identified as the subject of the advisory characterized the situation Thursday as something of a misunderstanding, but police and some of those who encountered him face-to-face remained skeptical.

“That’s why I just wanted to get it out there — I’m not part of the Boys and Girls Clubs,” Johnathan Tate told KSL in an interview. “Basically I own my own business.”

Tate said his business, which he named “Successful Leaders,” sells books and magazines door-to-door. He said he has been offering people the “alternative” to donate their magazines.

“If you don’t want your magazine subscriptions, you can send them off as a gift order to the Boys and Girls Clubs,” Tate explained. “I’m not representing that I’m from the Boys and Girls Clubs or that I work for the Boys and Girls Clubs. I just want to be clear — I represent Successful Leaders — my business.”

Jessica McCombs, a Salt Lake City resident who complained to police, said Wednesday and again on Thursday that Tate represented himself as being affiliated with the Boys and Girls Clubs when he came to her door last week.


Why would I be around trying to scam somebody? I've actually opened up my own company trying to better myself.

–Johnathan Tate


An executive with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake said the complaints and calls they’ve fielded were also about a man going door-to-door, claiming to represent their organization.

“Every single person we have talked to asked if he’s an employee of ours because that’s what their impression is,” Senior Development Manager Amanda Ree Hughes said Thursday night.

Hughes also said the clubs really don’t take magazines.

“We don’t have a need for magazines in our clubs,” Hughes said. “It’s not a donation we would readily accept.”

Tate said he planned to contact the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake.

“Why would I be around trying to actually scam somebody?” Tate questioned. “I’ve actually opened up my own company trying to better myself.”

Salt Lake City police issued an advisory Wednesday cautioning about a man “attempting to receive monetary donations on behalf of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake” and stating that the man did not work for the organization. It included a description of the man, including possible names Jonathan Turner or Jonathan Tate.

Hughes said Wednesday the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake started receiving concerned calls about three weeks ago, and workers have fielded about a call per day since.

After a resident complaint to police, officers briefly stopped and questioned Tate Wednesday night when he was going door-to-door in the area of 600 South and 700 East. He was not taken into custody.

Detective Richard Chipping said Thursday night officers identified Tate during the stop and got his side of the story.

The case was still the focus of an active investigation, Chipping said, and detectives were looking into complaints.

Hughes said her organization does not solicit donations door-to-door, and inquiries can be made by calling 801-322-4411 or going to the website www.bgcgsl.org.

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