Woman arrested in forgery scam

Woman claimed she was collecting for MS Society.

Topeka police Wednesday arrested a woman they said had collected money while falsely posing as a solicitor for the local branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Debbie L. Joseph, 35, Topeka, was being held in the Shawnee County Jail in connection with a felony count of forgery and a misdemeanor count of theft, according to jail records.

The MS Society on Tuesday had issued a public warning that a woman had been going door to door on the west side of Topeka and asking residents to donate to the society's annual fund-raising drive.

The society's local manager said that after residents made out checks to the MS Society, the woman was forging her own name and cashing them.

Police said they had received about one call complaining about the woman each week for the past several weeks.

On Wednesday, police Lt. Jerry Young said, detectives arrested Joseph without incident at her home at 700 S.W. Washburn.

Detective Lyndon Weddle on Wednesday was investigating numerous cases that might involve Joseph, Young said.

Weddle asked that anyone who might have given money to Joseph call the detective between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. at 368-9414.

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