‘It disgusted me’: Mississippi woman worries website preys on special needs children

MEMPHIS, TN. — A Panola County mom of a four-year-old autistic boy worries her info was stolen by an internet site claiming to assist particular wants kids.

“It disgusted me,” mentioned the younger mom, who requested to not be recognized. “I positively was not going to be quiet.”

She requested FOX13 to cover her identification as a result of she mentioned she is worried her info was stolen within the rip-off.

“If this can be a rip-off, it’s actually sick,” mentioned Daniel Irwin, spokesman for the Higher Enterprise Bureau of the Mid-South. “Utilizing particular wants kids as a ploy, that’s an entire totally different stage of scum.”

Respectable web site?

The web site, aaronff.org, claims to belong to the Aaron Household Basis. ProPublica.org posted a number of tax paperwork linked to the inspiration, however an individual who answered the cellphone quantity listed on paperwork claimed to not symbolize the inspiration.

“It sounded prefer it made sense,” the Mississippi mom mentioned. “The webpage appears actual.”

The web site claims to supply monetary help to households of particular wants kids. Nonetheless, the “companions” listed on this particular web site don’t seem like legit. Scammers might need even taken photographs from the Well being Share of Oregon web site.

“It appears like from what we are able to see, they used 4 photographs from board members and made up names,” a spokesman for the Well being Share of Oregon informed FOX13.

Whereas reviewing the location with the Higher Enterprise Bureau of the Mid-South, FOX13 observed questionable particulars. The cellphone quantity’s space code was in Boston, however the bodily handle was in California. Bayview Avenue exists in Belvedere, California, however “156 Baybiew Ave” doesn’t.

“It doesn’t appear legit based mostly on what we’re discovering,” Irwin mentioned. “Take into accout. These scams aren’t essentially designed to get your cash. This might be out to get your private info.”

Fears about identification theft

The Mississippi mom worries her info could have been compromised. After making use of on-line, she was informed to supply a financial institution assertion, proof of revenue and a driver’s license with a view to obtain an additional $2,000 a month.

“It simply wasn’t including up,” she mentioned. “It wasn’t including up.”

After being informed she needed to obtain exterior software program, she demanded to talk to somebody on the cellphone. The younger mom mentioned the individual on the opposite finish appeared like a robotic.

“I instantly hung up,” she mentioned. “I deleted the app they informed me to obtain. I deleted all of the emails.”

Whereas she in the end determined to shut that checking account, the mom mentioned she remained deeply troubled {that a} scammer would goal a household with particular wants.

“We didn’t lose something, however you prey on particular wants kids and their moms?” she requested. “It disgusted me, as a result of I actually had plans for that cash for my child.”

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