Authorities in the United States have brought criminal charges against a Florida woman accused of a cruel online fraud, in which she allegedly posed as the grieving father of a teenager killed in the devastating Texas camp floods of July 2025.
The Details of the Alleged Fraud
According to court documents examined by multiple news outlets, Maitlin Paige White, 28, from Crestview, Florida, is charged with online impersonation. Investigators state that she pretended to be Matthew Childress in the days following the death of his 18-year-old daughter, Chloe Childress.
Chloe was working as a counsellor at Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas, when catastrophic flooding struck the area, claiming the lives of 27 campers and staff. Just four days after the tragedy, on 8 July 2025, a GoFundMe page was created using Matthew Childress's name and a photograph of his daughter, without his knowledge or consent.
The fraudulent page appealed for public donations to support the family in the aftermath of the disaster. Mr Childress discovered the page on 10 July and immediately alerted law enforcement. Their investigation uncovered a second fundraising account, set up on the Spotfund platform, also under Childress's name.
How the Investigation Unfolded
After obtaining records from both fundraising companies, detectives secured information that linked the accounts directly to Maitlin Paige White. This evidence included her name, phone number, email address, and bank account details. Texas outlet KTRK reported that records showed both fraudulent accounts were created on the same day.
When contacted by detectives, White reportedly stated she was a "single mother of two young children" and had been "looking for a quick way to make some money", according to the court filings.
Alan Rosen, a Houston-area constable, had posted on Facebook on 11 July about an investigation into a scammer pretending to be Chloe Childress's father. While it was initially unclear if this referred specifically to White's case, Rosen's office later confirmed the charges against her, posting her photo on X and stating she had been charged for the online scam.
Consequences and Platform Response
In a statement to Texas news outlet KRIV, GoFundMe emphasised its "zero tolerance for the misuse of our platform". The company confirmed its team acted swiftly to remove the fundraiser, refund the donors, and ban the organiser's account. Crucially, thanks to their safety procedures, the organiser never gained access to the $5 that was raised.
This case highlights the disturbing trend of criminals exploiting public sympathy in the wake of genuine tragedies. It serves as a stark reminder for donors to exercise caution and verify the legitimacy of online fundraising campaigns, especially those following high-profile incidents.
