Scammers use picture of boy who choked to death on food to con people
The parents of a baby who choked to death have discovered a scam profiting from their loss.
Nine-month-old Oliver Steeper died six days after struggling to swallow his food at Jelly Beans Day Nursery in Ashford, Kent, in 2021.
Parents Lewis and Zoe set up a foundation in his memory to raise money and push for anti-choking devices in nurseries.
But days before he died, they were brought to tears when they found out a scammer was using his picture to raise money for themselves.
The couple said: ‘We have been made aware of a scam asking people for money using my photo of Oliver from September 2021 during the darkest times of our lives.
‘We are beyond heartbroken at this and absolutely despise anyone doing this.
‘I will now be seeking legal advice against both the account holder and the account holder of the email address shown.
‘How could someone be so deceitful to use our little boy, a picture from the darkest times of our life, to deceive people out of money?
‘Please do not give money to anyone asking for anything to do with Oliver, unless it’s our own official GoFundMe page. Angry doesn’t cover it.’
The scammer’s Facebook post reads: ‘Little boy needs your prayers and thoughts. He is critically ill and fighting for his life.
‘Please say a prayer or spare a thought for Oliver, we need all the strength we can possible get hold of to try an get through this. If you want to help the family, PayPal: (followed by payment details).’
Dad Lewis added: ‘One of our friends sent us the post so I immediately went to find it. I was livid.
‘We were both just reduced to tears. It’s absolutely disgusting and I just hope no one has fallen for it.’
The couple have reported the account to PayPal and asked for any donations made to be returned, as well as the page which the post was made from, and say it is an 80-year-old woman who has been hacked.
Lewis said: ‘We have our own official fundraising page and that’s the only one we use. I haven’t contacted the police yet but I am going to.’
Despite this heartbreak, Lewis said it is humbling to see followers of their foundation have got their backs emotionally and physically.
He added: ‘They support us and we couldn’t do it without them.
‘We are thankful to them for the support – life unfortunately has to go on and this is just another bump in the road that we’ve got to get over in terms of what’s in store for us in life.’
The Oliver Steeper Foundation has raised more than £14,000 so far and the couple have applied for charity status.
Those wishing to make a donation to the genuine site can find it at http://www.oliversfoundation.org.uk or https://www.gofundme.com/f/lifevac-for-childcare-settings.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.