Bogus GoFundMe Page Frustrates Family Of Sick Child
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
HALTOM CITY (CBS11) - A sick and recovering North Texas child who suffers from a heart condition now finds himself in an even more debilitating situation.
Haltom City Police are investigating a donation page used to raise money for Samuel Ramon Hunter Jr. The teen's family said they have never seen any of the donations.
Samuel Ramon Hunter Jr., now 17-years-old, nearly died in January 2015 after undergoing surgery. He spent months in the hospital and had to relearn how to walk and write.
"It's been rough, it's been rough. I'm just glad I'm here," said Ramon Hunter.
During that tough time, a family friend started a GoFundMe page to help and even posted on Facebook several times trying to convince folks to donate.
But Ramon Hunter and his family never saw any of the donations.
"I just feel used, I feel used," said Ramon Hunter.
Ramon Hunter's grandmother Kimberly Hunter said she tried for months to get in touch to receive the funds, but was either ignored or told GoFundMe hadn't sent the money.
When she contacted GoFundMe, a representative told her the near $2,000 raised had been pulled out months prior.
"I feel like she stole from him," said Hunter. "That's what angered me. That she used a child to get this. I don't see how anyone could use a child to do something like that."
A visit to the listed address for the family friend and a phone call had no answers.
Hunter said what is even more heartbreaking is that her grandson did not even want to use the money for himself. She said he wanted to by a headstone for his father who passed away a few years ago.
"He really had his heart set and I had to turn around and tell him, well you're not getting that money," said Hunter.
A representative from GoFundMe said fraud makes up about one-tenth of one percent of all cases.
They said once police wrap up their investigation, if the money is not returned they will match the donation.
(©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
