Anonymous donor gives $2,000 to St. Augustine father, son who lost thousands in internet scam

“This is a recovery. This is a safety net,” he said.  “This is someone who reached out to us and went well beyond what anything I can even imagine asking for.”

The owner didn’t want his name or face out there but would let us say it’s from North Florida Home Renovations.

He said Markovich’s story resonated with him as he, too, has fallen on hard times.

“From my heart, I can’t thank them enough,” Markovich said.

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Action News Jax told you Wednesday that Markovich and his son - who suffers from cerebral palsy and seizures - must be out of the home on Prince Phillip Drive in St. Augustine Saturday as the new tenants will be moving in.

Markovich saw a fake ad on Craigslist, which is still up, and paid $2,000 in money orders for rent to who he thought was the owner.

He quickly learned it was all a scam.

On a fixed income, he worried he and his son would have nowhere to turn.

Now, this father and son plan to use the money to find a new place, then, pay this gesture forward.

“Someday, when I’m in a position to help someone, I promise I will return the favor,” Markovich said.