SICK INTERNET SCAM PROFITS FROM MODEL’S TRAGIC DEATH
Fake funeral fund for mum-of-four used friend’s name A THIEF masqueraded as the close friend of a tragic model to trick the public into giving funeral donations.
The fraudster set up a €10,000 online appeal following the death of motherof-four Alli MacDonnell, who was just 37.
But her grieving best friend Lisa Burgess, whose name was misused by the cheats, has told the Irish Daily Mail: ‘It’s sick beyond belief.’
Someone stole her identity after she spoke publicly about how much she loved Ms MacDonnell and would miss her.
Ms Burgess, a long-time friend of Ms MacDonnell, learned of the bogus fundraiser through Facebook and wants no-one to fall victim to it.
She said she was ‘in shock’ and ‘sick’ in case anyone in
Ms MacDonnell’s family might think she would ever do this.
According to Ms Burgess, an imposter used her name with a picture of her with Ms MacDonnell on a fake Facebook profile and then posted a link to the fundraising webpage on Ms MacDonnell’s Facebook page.
The intrusion into Ms MacDonnell’s Facebook page came just a day after her heartbroken family discovered her body at her Dublin home.
Ms Burgess said: ‘I want whoever did such an utterly despicable thing to be caught. Caught and tried.’ She said she was determined to the find those responsible.
The fundraiser was hosted on the website GoGetFunding.com. Ms Burgess said she contacted the company late on Tuesday and it was removed yesterday.
In response to questions from the Irish Daily Mail, GoGetFunding.com said that once they were made aware that someone falsely set up a fundraising page, it was removed.
The firm deleted the GoGetFunding account that created the fundraising page and permanently blocked it from the site.
The company also confirmed that only one €5 donation had been received. The fundraiser initially had a goal of €10,000.
GoGetFunding.com said in a statement: ‘Fraudsters are constantly evolving their techniques and schemes to defraud.
‘Creating fraudulent or imitation campaigns that are copied directly from genuine campaigns on other sites is a particularly easy concept, but in practice is rarely successful due to the very nature of crowdfunding.
‘There is one exception to this rule but it would be irresponsible to “advertise” what that is. Regarding prevalence, it is low, but present.’
The company said as a result of security measures and protocols it employs, fraudulent campaigns usually receive no donations or minimal donations, adding that family and friends usually get in touch reasonably quickly and campaigns are deleted.
‘As no funds pass through our site the donor is able to contact the payment processor and request a refund,’ said GoGetFunding.com.
Ms Burgess said she also reported the fraud to An Garda Síochána.
On the loss of Ms MacDonnell, Mr Burgess said she is ‘struggling enough having lost her’ as she is currently going through chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Ms Burgess was working as a stylist for TV3 more than ten years ago when she first met Dubliner Ms MacDonnell.
She said: ‘Alli was always there by my side for the good and the bad times. She was the most honest and loyal friend I have had. We had so many laughs together.
‘As a stylist and model, people thought we led ultra-glamorous lives. In reality we would be sitting in our pyjamas listening to music and putting the world to rights. I loved her so much.’
Mr Burgess said she has recently been diagnosed with cancer and said Ms MacDonnell had been helping her through her rounds of chemotherapy by trying to cheer her up and lift her spirits by sending her funny messages.
‘Alli had the ability to see humour in the most dire situation,’ she said, adding that the pair were planning a holiday when she finished her treatment.
Ms Burgess said: ‘Alli would help anybody in need. Her home and heart was open to anybody struggling. Every charity who asked for help got it. She was a passionate voice for autism.
‘She managed to balance work, charity and mothering four children with aplomb. I admired this greatly. She faced the challenges of autism head on and helped many with unseen work.’
Mr Burgess said the last message she received from Ms MacDonnell in recent days was simply: ‘I love thee xxxx.’
‘It is utterly despicable’ ‘Alli was a real Irish mammy’
She said that because of her cancer, she will not be able to travel to say one final goodbye to her friend. She added Ms MacDonnell’s family and work colleagues have agreed to hold a memorial for her.
‘This memorial will be in honour of the most beautiful woman inside and out I had the privilege to know,’ said Ms Burgess, adding that her thoughts and prayers are with Ms MacDonnell’s mother, her four children and the rest of her family. ‘Alli was extraordinarily intelligent and strong. A real Irish mammy in every sense of the word,’ said Ms Burgess.
She described Ms MacDonnell as ‘passionate’ spokesperson for autism, having worked on campaigns for Autism Ireland
Along with her modelling career, Ms MacDonnell had been at the forefront of campaigns for Autism Ireland after her younger son was diagnosed with the condition.
Autism Ireland CEO Samantha Judge praised Ms MacDonnell, saying: ‘Alli was an amazing mother, a beautiful woman, inside and out. She was a very strong voice for autism as a mother, and she was so supportive of her children and of the charity. She will be a great loss to us.’
There were media reports saying Ms MacDonnell had been subjected to vile social media comments before her death.
Just a few days before she had been posting images of her celebrating her sister’s birthday.