Ive got no dog in this fight but since this is a community one of the benefits is, or should be, a unified voice. Perhaps you could pick one person to call the local PD and advise them of the problem, number of victims, and get their input on how to proceed. I'm sure the local PD would rather deal with a cut and dried process to do what they do. If you can get an officer assigned to this, and given the number of complaints that shouldn't be very hard, the paperwork end of the problem should be streamlined. The person who's chosen should be calm, straightforward and above all organized. That'd help make things go nice and smooth...
Of course the end result probably won't get people their money back --- but at least the offender will feel the wrath of justice served.
