The Panama News has received the following communication from the family of US Army Specialist Shoshana Johnson, the Panamanian-American soldier who was captured by Iraqi forces in the early days of the recent war and later released:

"Please beware that someone using the email address centurion@ureach.com is hosting a website to purportedly collect money on behalf of Specialist Shoshana Johnson, the former POW. The website is http://shoshana.b2b.bbs.us/ . It's unauthorized and illegal.

"To make the record straight, neither Specialist Shoshana Johnson nor her family have not made any agreement with any individual, organization or charity group to receive any money.

"If you have read about any type of money given to the Johnsons, please disregard it. It's a hoax. If you sent money to the people behind either of these websites, http://shoshana.b2b.bbs.us/ or http://www.ureachcorp.com/home/news_press.htm , please contact them and ask them to return your donation and advise them that they are conducting an illegal operation and you will report them to The Federal Trade Commission Office Of Consumer Response (1-877-382-4357). You can also contact Congresswoman Dianne E. Watson, at 202-225-7084 or 323-965-1422.

"Please circulate this notice as widely as possible, if you have access to your company newsletter, local newspapers, radio stations etc., we need your help in publicizing this scam. Let's make this an issue. Your support and suggestions are greatly appreciated."

The Panama News adds that you should understand that this fraudulent scheme is not only a crime, an abuse of people's sense of patriotism and community spirit and an insult to Specialist Johnson and her family. It also implicitly libels the US Army, which, whatever criticisms people may have of it or of the missions that civilian politicians assign to it, has a pretty good record of taking care of its members who become prisoners of war and their families.

Back to top