Harris County Precinct One is warning residents to be alert for fraudulent fundraisers exploiting the grief of families impacted by the Texas Hill Country floods. A fake GoFundMe impersonating a victim’s father was shut down within minutes, officials said.
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In the wake of the deadly Texas Hill Country floods, Harris County officials are cracking down on fraudulent fundraisers that prey on public generosity and the grief of affected families.
Constable Alan Rosen of Precinct One is urging residents to remain vigilant after a scammer created a fake GoFundMe campaign posing as the father of Houston flood victim Chloe Childress. Rosen reports that GoFundMe swiftly shut down the fraudulent fundraiser after it collected approximately $1,500 in donations.
Rosen said in a public statement, "These families are enduring the saddest tragedies of their lives, and to do this is just soulless." The officials are not going to tolerate these imposters harming families and exploiting the goodwill of the community
Precinct One detectives are actively investigating the scam for potential criminal charges, including forgery and online impersonation. Authorities are also investigating whether one of the donors was involved in the scheme to make the fake fundraiser seem more credible.
Officials emphasize the importance of verifying online fundraisers before donating. Constable Rosen advised the public to use trusted sources and consult GoFundMe’s safety guidelines to avoid becoming victims of similar scams. “One of our community’s greatest hallmarks is our ability to come together to help in times of need,” Rosen said. “We want folks to be careful and avoid being scammed.”
GoFundMe has a dedicated fraud prevention team and encourages users to report suspicious activity via its official platform. The company collaborates closely with law enforcement to promptly investigate and remove any fraudulent campaigns.
With emotions running high and many families still reeling from the catastrophic floods that claimed more than 120 lives, officials say it is critical to safeguard the integrity of genuine fundraising efforts.
Harris County leaders are also working with state and federal partners to increase public awareness of digital scams and to bolster protections for both donors and victims.
For more information on how to spot and report fraudulent campaigns, residents can visit GoFundMe’s resource page for fraud prevention.
