Fake Facebook Pages Exploit Sandy Hook Victims for Profit
In the wake of the Newstown, Connecticut tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, as with most tragic events, opportunists begin to crawl out of the woodwork almost immediately. One example is Facebook page designed to look like memorial pages.
Facebook pages that spring up shortly after major news breaks should be considered suspicious at best. Just because it’s on Facebook and has thousands of followers, does not make it legitimate.
Why would people do something like this? Profit! Plain and simple, profit.
Since hearing of the tragedy, my heart has been so heavy. I’ve experienced every range of emotion – I’ve cried, prayed, cursed, questioned God, cried some more. I tried to sleep, but it was as though I could hear the cries of mothers as a very large part of their soul was being torn from them, when they were told their child would not be coming home.
I’ve wanted to do something – anything – to help those babies and their families. I didn’t know what I could possibly do, from Podunk Indiana – then I saw the fake pages and knew there was something I could do about that.
If there’s one thing I do know – it’s the Internet! I rolled up my sleeves and got busy!
The short version of what happens…
Facebook pages have sprung up for each victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting. This is an example of the fake page created in the name of Emilie Parker – at the time of this writing, it is 11:40 PM, Saturday. This page shows it was created 6 hours ago. Moments after the names of all the victims were released.
When the father, Robbie Parker issued his statement to the media, he mentioned the Emilie Parker Fund Facebook page – obviously that is the one the family has authorized and the one I trust.
This is what the Emilie Parker Fund page looks like and the link that takes you directly to that page is just below. The person in charge of this page has shared some adorable pictures of Emilie and her family. Pay them a visit, leave them a note and donate to the memorial fund if your heart guides you to do so.
Emilie Parker Memorial Fund Facebook Page (Link)
As you happen across pages that are obviously fake, especially in this case, when it’s tiny children that are being exploited – don’t hesitate to report them.
How to report the fake page to Facebook:
In the upper right portion of the page, just under the header picture – you’ll click on the dropdown menu labeled MESSAGE as shown here:
Click on Report Page – to display an option as shown here:
You can choose the option that is most fitting to the report. Click Continue and that’s it.
There may not be a lot we can do – but we can do our best to keep opportunistic asshats from profiting off such tremendous loss.
Do me a favor!
As you make your way around Facebook and find pages or groups that appear to be for Sandy Hook victims or their families, drop a comment below with the link. I intend to keep an updated page with links to the legitimate pages – should people want to visit and get to know the victims and the lives that should have been.
Leave your comments with the fake pages too! Maybe if enough of us report them, they’ll come down quicker.
Hugz
Gayla
