Five men were arrested Thursday in Ammon by deputies from the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office for allegedly running multiple fraudulent scams in the area.

According to Sgt. Bryan Lovell, Bonneville County Sheriff’s spokesman, deputies were called to the area of Hobby Lobby shortly after 10 a.m. to a report of multiple African-American men approaching people in the parking lot soliciting donations using Venmo.

Deputies had been investigating a similar call Wednesday at the Target parking lot in Ammon, where victims had been scammed and their credit card information had been stolen, Lovell said. Reporting parties from both instances described multiple African-American individuals traveling together in a vehicle with Oregon license plates.

While deputies were taking the report at Hobby Lobby, another deputy spotted a vehicle and subjects matching the description provided and initiated a traffic stop near the entrance to Target at 2171 S 25th E in Ammon, Lovell said.

During the stop, deputies could allegedly smell the strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle which was occupied by five male adults, a female adult and a baby.

Front-seat passenger Mario T. Sanders, 37, was observed eating a green leafy substance, Lovell reported. As deputies had Sanders exit the vehicle, they spotted containers with marijuana next to where he had been sitting. Sanders eventually admitted to ingesting a large amount of marijuana and an ambulance was called to the scene for a medical assessment.

The remaining occupants were removed from the vehicle and detained, while deputies seized what was left of the marijuana and conducted a search of the vehicle, Lovell said. Drug paraphernalia and items related to the reported scam activities were located, some of which included multiple cell phones and printed flyers. Deputies also located several hydrocodone pills in a wallet belonging to the driver, identified as Deandre D. Houston, 32.

From evidence located in the vehicle and reports from victims, deputies determined the group had been approaching people in parking lots asking for donations to at least two different causes.

According to Lovell, one flyer contained logos for Autism Awareness and a picture of a child with a story line to support “The Jackson Family,” with a narrative stating that a 5-year-old child walking with his grandmother was shot on his way to school and the family did not have insurance to pay for funeral costs.

A second flyer also had Autism Awareness logos and a picture of the same child titled “James Hoover Funeral Fund,” Lovell said. Deputies were aware victims had reported their financial transaction cards missing, as well as access through various cash apps to their accounts with unauthorized amounts of money transferred out.

Deputies found that Houston had an active warrant for his arrest from Williamson County, Ill., for a felon in possession of a firearm.

After Sanders was checked by ambulance personnel on scene, he and Houston were placed under arrest and transported to the Bonneville County Jail, Lovell said.

Sanders was booked for felony fraudulent use of a financial transaction card and misdemeanor charges for possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and destruction of evidence, Lovell said.

Houston was booked on felony charges of fraudulent use of a financial transaction card, possession of a controlled substance and fugitive from justice related to the active warrant from Illinois, Lovell said.

Three other male occupants of the vehicle were identified as Vontrel D. Rendles, 28, Raymond S. Stokes, 27, and Hollis P. Williams, 35, all of Illinois, Lovell said. All three were placed under arrest and transported to jail, where they were booked for felony fraudulent use of a financial transaction card. The female adult and baby traveling with the group were released at the scene.

Deputies found multiple instances of this scam in the area and other locations across Idaho, Lovell said. Targeted victims were found primarily to be older women who were convinced by the suspects to provide emails, phone numbers and personal identifying information, some even assisting with the electronic transaction via their cell phone to facilitate a donation.

Victims later found financial transaction cards missing, and multiple unauthorized transactions on their accounts, according to Lovell. Victims also told deputies the suspects refused to take a cash donation for their cause, only an electronic or card payment in addition to collecting their personal information.

The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who may have been approached or fallen victim to this scam to contact the Sheriff’s Office through dispatch at 208-529-1200 and ask to speak with a deputy.

“As our area experiences a wide variety of scams, the sheriff’s office reminds everyone to keep their personal and financial information safe by monitoring accounts, changing passwords often and utilizing security measures provided by your financial and online institutions,” Lovell said. “Never provide this information to unverified entities or people and always be suspicious of fundraising causes and solicitations that can’t easily be vetted or researched.”