Hackers steal almost $30K from Polk Co. charity

LAKELAND (FOX 13) - A Polk County charity that helps needy kids during Christmas time has had its bank account wiped out by hackers.

Someone managed to steal $27,000 from the accounts of Polk County Christmas Angels.

“I went to check the balance and I found out I was over $3,000 in the rears, I had a heart attack,” said director Sandy Toledo.

Somehow, someone stole all of director Toledo's personal information, including her social security number. 

“They hacked into my personal account. I didn't have nearly that amount of money and that’s my personal account and that's stressful, but not nearly as stressful as this because this is for the children,” she said.

Toledo's charity helps the neediest of needy children. Since 1969, the charity has bought Christmas gifts for foster, shelter, and caregiver children.

This year, they were working to make Christmas special for about 2,000 boys and girls.

“These children are expecting Santa Claus to come and he has to get there and somehow we have to make this happen,” she said.

Toledo is working with Bank of America and the Lakeland Police Department to see what - if anything - she can recoup.  At this point, she is praying for a Christmas miracle.

”I have great faith in Polk County, they're wonderful people I hope they'll step forward and help me," she told FOX 13 News.

If you would like to make a donation, you can send it to: 

Polk County Christmas Angels, P.O. Box 4, Lakeland 33802

or call Sandy Toledo at 863-602-1665.