CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C. – Cameryn’s Cause for Kids Society is telling residents to stay vigilant when it comes to supporting causes.
A father allegedly asked for help to raise money for his child’s funeral costs.
The page was shared by “Bob Dino” to several Campbell River groups. The now deleted page asked for donations to cover funeral costs for his son “Dakota”. “Bob” put on the page that he and his family were trying to raise $5000 overall.
“Bob” allegedly got in touch with Campbell River charity Cameryn’s Cause for Kids Society, after which he lowered the fundraising goal to $3000.
Cameryn’s Cause released a statement saying “Bob” never reached out to them, and had not responded to a volunteer who reached out to him asking if he truly did need help.
The GoFundMe page circulated on social media, but Campbell River residents have since figured out it wasn’t quite real.
Residents pointed out the picture “Bob” used for the fundraiser is actually a picture of another boy from Iowa who passed away a few months earlier.
Cameryn’s Cause for Kids Society vice president Amanda Barnes said it was disheartening to see someone using their organization’s name for ill gain.
“We encourage people to be extremely vigilant about what fundraising campaigns they support. We hope that the great people of the community continue to support their friends, neighbours and legitimate organizations in their times of need,” Barnes wrote in a message to MyCampbellRiverNow.com.
The organization asked residents not to send money to “Bob”. A few residents have noted they reported the GoFundMe page as fraudulent.
The person’s fundraiser has been deleted, and so is the profile.
