Taix waitress sees donations pour in after she was scammed

Antonia Becerra was close to retiring after working 44 years as a waitress at Taix in Echo Park until she lost her life's savings to an overseas scam. This week she saw first-hand how much people can care: An outpouring of support has generated roughly $4,000 for the 81-year-old.

From a high school sports team organizing a collection drive in her honor to a financial planner setting up a donation account, the response to Becerra's plight has been swift since the Glendale resident's story became public this weekend.

Among the many people pitching in to help get the longtime Taix restaurant waitress back on her feet is Patrick Abram Sr., an assistant head football coach at Garey High School in Pomona.

"I just lost both my grandmothers and just to see something like this," he said, adding that Becerra's story immediately resonated with him even though he has never eaten at Taix or met the waitress.

Becerra reported at least $40,000 in losses to Glendale police after falling victim to a lottery scam in which con artists convinced her that she had won $2 million and a new Mercedes-Benz. The scammers told her to sell her own car and to transfer the money to them to secure her prize, and she did.

Police are asking anyone interested in donating money to visit glendalepoa.com.

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--Veronica Rocha, Times Community News

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Photo: Glendale Officers Patrick Hamblin and Ryan Gunn notify a stunned Antonia Becerra that they will be donating money to help her pay for rent. Credit: Glendale Police Department