LIVINGSTON, TX – In a classic case of mistaken identity, longtime Polk County resident, Ethel May Jenkins, found herself entangled in an online pyramid scheme after confusing it with a virtual bingo night fundraiser for the local VFW.

Jenkins, a self-proclaimed bingo enthusiast, received a message from a friend on Facebook inviting her to join what she thought was a charity event to raise money for a new community center in Onalaska. Without reading the details carefully, she eagerly signed up, thinking she was doing her part to support a good cause.

Little did Jenkins know, she had actually fallen victim to an elaborate pyramid scheme disguised as a “get-rich-quick” opportunity circulating on eastexasnews.com. The scheme, known as “Bucks4Days,” promised participants hefty returns on their investments by recruiting more members to join the network.

“I just wanted to help out the community, you know? I didn’t realize I was getting myself into something fishy,” Jenkins confessed, as she tried to navigate the confusing online platform filled with complicated payment structures and recruitment tactics.

Local law enforcement officials have issued a warning to residents to be cautious of online schemes and to always verify the legitimacy of fundraising events before participating. Meanwhile, Jenkins is determined to make the best of her situation, hoping to recoup some of her lost funds by hosting an actual bingo night at the VFW to raise money for the community center.

As for the pyramid scheme, it seems to have fizzled out as quickly as it began, leaving behind a trail of confused and frustrated East Texans who learned the hard way that not all online invitations are as innocent as they seem.