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$24,000 Allegedly Stolen From Deceased Truck Driver’s GoFundMe Account

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Police are investigating after money from a GoFundMe fundraiser set up to help the young widow and two children that a truck driver left behind was allegedly stolen.

“Friend” Sets Up GoFundMe Account After Truck Driver Dies

29-year-old Roger Bélanger was killed in a crash on July 28. Within a few days of his death, a friend offered to set up a GoFundMe account to help the grieving family.

Family Has Not Seen Any Fundraiser Money

Within a week, nearly 200 people had donated $24,000 to the fund — but Bélanger’s family hasn’t seen any of that money.

As time went on without seeing the money, Bélanger’s widow Roxanne began to grow concerned. When she contacted support at GoFundMe, they informed her that the account was empty. They also told her that the money had been withdrawn little by little in 22 separate withdrawals.

GoFundMe Works With Police

GoFundMe has frozen the account, but Roxanne Bélanger says that the theft highlights the need for increased safeguards on crowdfunding sites — especially when a family is grieving and may not be on the alert. “It proves the point that it is too easy for people to take advantage of other people who are grieving,” she said.

GoFundMe is working with police to investigate the incident.

Sources:
CBC

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