Warning over fake websites ‘raising cash for tragic Alfie’

MEMBERS of the public hoping to donate to Alfie Evans’ family following the toddler’s tragic death were yesterday warned that dozens of fake fundraising websites have been set up.

Up to 27 appeals are on the Just Giving website alone, with some seeking donations totalling as much as £20,000.

While the official page set up to help with treatment for brain-damaged Alfie has raised more than £130,000, supporters of his grieving parents, Tom Evans and Kate James, who lost their son last weekend, branded those who have set up fake pages ‘vile’ and ‘scum’.

The popular fundraising site pledged that bogus pages were being shut down and no money could be withdrawn from any of them until it was certain it would reach Alfie’s family.

Alfie, pictured, died aged 23 months in the early hours of last Saturday morning at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, more than four days after his life support was withdrawn following a long legal battle by his family to have treatment continued.

A Just Giving page titled Keep Fighting Alfie, which has raised £127, was set up just two days before Alfie’s death and was still on the site last night aimed at raising £1,500. One person commented on the page: ‘This is fraud. Do not give to this scumbag.’

But illustrating the potential for confusion, another Just Giving page set up by Louise Wallace, which has raised £900, was also branded fake despite organisers of the official Alfie’s Army Facebook page saying that she did have the family’s permission.

Just Giving said that it was in the process of shutting down sites which appeared to be scams.

A spokesman added: ‘Sadly, people do try to set these pages up. We have security and fraud barriers so they very quickly get shut down. We have restrictions set up on any page related to Alfie so people can donate but they cannot withdraw the funds.

‘We are trying to flush out any pages that have not been set up in good faith.’

Merseyside Police said it had not received any allegations of fraud.