In August 2026, deputies with the Bates County Sheriff's Office received a report of a possible scam that was targeting churches in the area. The initial reporting party gave a very specific description of a male who had contacted the church asking for financial assistance. The pastor of the church later discovered an email that had been sent to churches in the Kansas area, describing the same male party, who had been scamming churches in the state of Kansas as well. The individual was traveling to various churches, giving a similar story each time to church members in order to play on their heartstrings and gain financial assistance from each church, and sometimes individual members of the church.
The investigation led to the identity of the male and revealed that the individual had scammed multiple churches in Bates County, spanning from November 2025 to October 2026. The individual was identified as 53-year-old Tracy Humbert of Fort Scott, Kansas. It was also discovered that Humbert had been using the same scam on churches in the state of Iowa as well as the state of Kansas. In each case, the story only changed slightly, often indicating that his family members were ill and dying and he needed financial assistance to get to them in another state; however, the investigation determined that the stories were false. Deputies notified churches in Bates County to be aware of Mr. Humbert and the scam that he was peddling.
On October 11, 2026, deputies received a call from one of the churches in Bates County. The reporting party advised that Humbert was currently at their church attempting to get money. Deputies responded, observed Mr. Humbert actively trying to get money, and took him into custody.
A warrant was issued for Mr. Humbert, and he is currently being held in the Bates County Jail on a $100,000.00 cash-only bond, where he has been charged with Theft by Deceit, a Class D felony in the State of Missouri.
The Bates County Sheriff's Office would like to thank the Linn County Sheriff's Office for their assistance in the investigation. If you are a church in Bates County and this individual has contacted you and attempted to get financial assistance, and you have not already reported the incident, please reach out to the Bates County Sheriff's Office at 660-679-3232.
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