Outrage as fake fundraising page uses images of late Perth teen Levi Tracy
A fake fundraising page asking for money to support the family of a Perth teenager who died last week remains live on social media, despite appeals for it to be taken down.
Family grieving the death of Levi Tracy after a long battle with cancer say they now have to deal with scammers trying to cash in on their heartbreak by posing as the 19-year-old’s friend.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Facebook slow to act over fake fundraising page for Perth teen.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.A number of fake pages emerged just days after Tracy died, asking for money to cover funeral expenses and provide financial support.
That is despite a legitimate fundraiser having already been set up by a family friend.
“There’s been questions about our integrity and about that page and what’s going on,” Tracy’s father Mark Tracy told 7NEWS about one dodgy account.
“A lot of people know us and are backing us but there has been people going ’Why have you got a second page? What are you doing this for?’
“We’ve since explained to them and they’ve gone and done their own research, but that’s hard to take.”
Tracy’s mother was even sent a message asking her for $12,000.
The Tracy family says it reported the page to Facebook but was told it does not breach the social media platform’s standards. 7NEWS has contacted Facebook for comment.
Tracy won hearts battling cancer three times and his father was furious the teen’s name and images had been used to scam donors.
“They’re just trash. They’re the lowest of the low,” he told 7NEWS, saying he was “sick” and “angry” over what they are now dealing with.
“It’s upsetting,” he added. “It just brings all new feelings to the surface again and we’re just trying to navigate day by day. We’re broken.”
According to former police officer and technology crime expert Paul Litherland, scams like these are becoming more common.
“This is a constant frustration for me,” Litherland said.
“(Facebook’s parent company) Meta is a faceless organisation and sadly all of the reporting mechanisms are software-based.”
Originally published on 7NEWS
