The Wasatch County Sheriff’s Department is investigating multiple scams in which people are setting up Venmo accounts supposedly to benefit victims of several fatal crashes in Heber. The Sheriff’s department said people are taking advantage of an outpouring of goodwill and profiting off recent tragedies.
Scammers are apparently using Facebook, Instagram, and other social media sites to ask for donations for the families of those killed in recent accidents. They’re using the names and pictures of victims and their families.
The Sheriff’s office advised anyone considering donating to victims’ family funds to follow these guidelines:
1. Do not give out any personal or banking information.
2. Do not buy gift cards and then share access information to the gift cards online or by phone to anyone.
3. Be aware that the families involved in these accidents are NOT soliciting donations.
4. Because so many generous people want to donate to the families who’ve recently lost their loved ones, legitimate representatives of each family have created Venmo accounts. Please visit KPCW.org for a list of Venmo sites that are safe for donations.
Finally, donors should be aware that scammers have created Venmo accounts with names very similar to authentic accounts, so anyone using Venmo should be cautious and make sure they’re donating to legitimate accounts.
Here are the correct accounts for donations:
Brooklyn Schneider family:
Venmo- @Bridget-Whiting
Amy Nelson family:
Venmo- @Morgan Nelson-04
Payton Caldwell family:
Venmo- @Darrin-Caldwell
Emma Call family:
Venmo- @Terri_Call
Michael Rivera family:
Venmo- @Lizz1408