GoFundMe 'war' erupts as family of Florida student, 22, swept to sea on vacation accuse her friends of FRAUD after they set up a page to raise $25,000 and get the page shut down
Friends who set up a GoFundMe for a 22 -year-old woman who died after being swept to sea on vacation have had the fundraising page shut down after the victim's family accused them of fraud.
Savannah Rae Finn, 22, a student at Florida International University, was on rocks by Peterborg Point on the U.S. Virgin Island of St. Thomas with her boyfriend when strong waves washed them into the water at around 6pm on Sunday.
Her boyfriend was able to climb back onto the rocks and was rescued, but Finn, who was seen 'face down' and apparently 'lifeless' in the water by Chief Liston Thomas of St. Thomas Rescue, disappeared into the waves.
Her relatives have flown to the island to help the search for Finn. But since arriving they have accused her friends of fraud after the noticed their bid to raise $25,000 to 'get her home'.
But the page has since been shut down and GoFundMe has refunded all those who gave money.
The page initially read read: 'We desperately need to get her home, which is a very costly endeaver. The money raised on this page will go towards bringing Savannah home to her family and friends. Please please help us.'
However Savannah's stepmother Jackie Porter urged people to stop donating money and told those who had to demand a refund as they already had the costs covered.
She wrote: 'This is Savannah's stepmother of 10 year's and Father. The entire immediate family including Savannah's mother and two brothers are in St Thomas and do not need money to get family hotel. Airfare NOR get her home if the body is found. STOP donating money. Demand a refund if you do not get refunded within 24 hours report JENNA to Ft Lauderdale fraud department.'
Other people were also skeptical when the page was set up and questioned the motives of the group's organizers.
Pete Kasinpila wrote: 'I'm no detective but... There's a ridiculously big gap after the whole "unable to fight the strength of the ocean" part. If she's missing, then there's no way to bring her home, simple as that. Plus, it doesn't require $25,000 dollars to bring anyone back. Just her and her boyfriend flying first class would be $4000 and even less flying coach.
Some insisted her friends only wanted to help and did not suggest her family could not afford it.
Patricia Smith wrote: 'This was a plea from Savannah's Freind to help bring her home, Not that Her parents couldn't afford to..jst a Way for Freinds to help .. She Had Many Frinds that jst want to help.. I Woukd Think Mrs Porter could be more Thankful.. Il jst leave it there.. Those who know Savannah know she would be very grateful by the show of support from her Freinds.. RIP Sweet Girl.'
- Savannah Rae Finn was in St. Thomas when waves overpowered her
- She and her boyfriend were washed off rocks and into the sea Friday
- He was able to climb back up but Finn 'appeared to be lifeless'
- Her family have since flown to the island to join the search for Finn
- But they have slammed friends for trying to raise money they didn't need
- Finn's stepmother Jackie Porter urged people to stop donating to the fund
- She also threatened to report the group to a police's fraud department
- Others on the group said something 'fishy' was going on with the page
- It's not clear what connection the group's organizers have to Finn
- GoFundMe have since given refunds to all the people who donated
Friends who set up a GoFundMe for a 22 -year-old woman who died after being swept to sea on vacation have had the fundraising page shut down after the victim's family accused them of fraud.
Savannah Rae Finn, 22, a student at Florida International University, was on rocks by Peterborg Point on the U.S. Virgin Island of St. Thomas with her boyfriend when strong waves washed them into the water at around 6pm on Sunday.
Her boyfriend was able to climb back onto the rocks and was rescued, but Finn, who was seen 'face down' and apparently 'lifeless' in the water by Chief Liston Thomas of St. Thomas Rescue, disappeared into the waves.
Her relatives have flown to the island to help the search for Finn. But since arriving they have accused her friends of fraud after the noticed their bid to raise $25,000 to 'get her home'.
But the page has since been shut down and GoFundMe has refunded all those who gave money.
The page initially read read: 'We desperately need to get her home, which is a very costly endeaver. The money raised on this page will go towards bringing Savannah home to her family and friends. Please please help us.'
However Savannah's stepmother Jackie Porter urged people to stop donating money and told those who had to demand a refund as they already had the costs covered.
She wrote: 'This is Savannah's stepmother of 10 year's and Father. The entire immediate family including Savannah's mother and two brothers are in St Thomas and do not need money to get family hotel. Airfare NOR get her home if the body is found. STOP donating money. Demand a refund if you do not get refunded within 24 hours report JENNA to Ft Lauderdale fraud department.'
Other people were also skeptical when the page was set up and questioned the motives of the group's organizers.
Pete Kasinpila wrote: 'I'm no detective but... There's a ridiculously big gap after the whole "unable to fight the strength of the ocean" part. If she's missing, then there's no way to bring her home, simple as that. Plus, it doesn't require $25,000 dollars to bring anyone back. Just her and her boyfriend flying first class would be $4000 and even less flying coach.
Some insisted her friends only wanted to help and did not suggest her family could not afford it.
Patricia Smith wrote: 'This was a plea from Savannah's Freind to help bring her home, Not that Her parents couldn't afford to..jst a Way for Freinds to help .. She Had Many Frinds that jst want to help.. I Woukd Think Mrs Porter could be more Thankful.. Il jst leave it there.. Those who know Savannah know she would be very grateful by the show of support from her Freinds.. RIP Sweet Girl.'
