Family of Lincoln crash victim targeted by fake GoFundMe scam

LINCOLN, Ill. (WAND) - Following a two-car deadly car crash in Lincoln, 35-year-old Hailey Fawns is facing life-threatening injuries. Days after the crash, Fawns' family created a GoFundMe profile to help support her children.

"Right now, we're entering the cold season. And so, just paying her utilities while she is unable to provide for her family. The kids are going to need winter clothes and food," said Chelsea Foley, Fawns' cousin.

The online fundraiser was live for only a couple of hours before a bad actor copied the information, creating an account. The incorrect details on the fake page caught the attention of the Sherman Police Department, and they alerted the family. The family was questioned to verify that their page was accurate.

"They stole her pictures. I posted a few pictures of Haley. They stole her photos and the storyline. The only thing that they changed was. Is that the fatal car accident that happened in Sherman?" Foley said.

Merissa Richards is Fawns' younger sister. She described Fawns as a loving sister, an amazing mother of six kids and worked two jobs. Richards is shocked someone would use their family tragedy to steal money.

"It's a really scary world that we live in nowadays, with AI and everything that can be created on the internet. You never know what is real and what is fake. Knowing the fact that she has so many kids and had so much that she was, you know, doing like trying to make sure the bills got paid. It's really upsetting," Richards said.

Any money raised by the scammers will go to Fawns' appropriate GoFundMe. The family says they hope Fawns wakes up and recovers, though the doctors said she will never be the same after this accident.

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