On Tuesday, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody issued a Consumer Alert warning Floridians about charity scams attempting to exploit the heroic actions of Florida Highway Patrol Master Trooper Toni Schuck.
On March 6, a drunk driver sped 70 mph on a direct path toward runners in a 10K race in St. Petersburg. Trooper Schuck risked her life by driving a patrol vehicle in front of the speeding drunk driver to protect the runners and is now recovering from the collision. Two fake GoFundMe campaigns purporting to raise money for the injured officer have been removed, and FHP announced there are no authorized online fundraisers connected to the incident.
“Trooper Schuck is a hero, and I am appalled that anyone would try to exploit her heroics to rip off generous donors. My office immediately reached out to GoFundMe following reports that there were fake accounts on the platform purporting to raise money for the injured Trooper. Thankfully, the accounts have already been removed. Please do your research before giving, and if you see suspicious fundraising activities claiming proceeds will be donated to Trooper Schuck, contact my office immediately,” Moody said.
Colonel Gene Spaulding, the director of the Florida Highway Patrol, also weighed in.
“Master Trooper Toni Schuck’s heroism and self-sacrifice are the embodiment of the Florida Highway Patrol’s values–courtesy, service and protection. Trooper Schuck’s quick, unhesitating action is an inspiring reminder of the bravery our nation’s law enforcement officers display daily. I thank Attorney General Moody for her swift action to ensure Trooper Schuck’s heroism is not coopted by fraudsters,” Spaulding said.
Floridians should be on the lookout for deceptive individuals operating online fundraising campaigns. Review the following tips before contributing:
Consider giving to campaigns created by known and trusted individuals;
If information that raises suspicion is found when researching a crowdfunding organizer, report concerns to the Attorney General’s Office and the crowdsourcing platform; and
Notify the crowdsourcing platform if a potential recipient does not want a campaign set up or continued on their behalf.
