The support in Canonsburg and Cecil Township for a high school student battling bone cancer is unmatched. Someone took advantage of that support system to capitalize on the situation, making a fake GoFundMe account in the teenager’s name and raising more than $1,000.
Days after learning that Luke Blanock’s cancer had returned and turned terminal, Danielle McKain organized hundreds for a surprise Christmas caroling outside his home.
“A lot of people screaming and yelling, ‘We are here for you. We love you. We are praying for you.’ It was very touching,” McKain said.
But while they were showing support, someone was online creating a fake GoFundMe account.
The poster, who only identified himself as Eric P, didn’t even spell Blanock’s name correctly on the account but quickly raised more than $1,000.
Cecil police Detective James Brose told Channel 11 News that they’re investigating.
“We are exhausting every resource: search warrants, subpoenas,” Brose said.
In the community, everyone cares about Blanock and this fraudulent act isn’t sitting well.
“You have a young man battling cancer, his family going through a lot of emotions and now they have to deal with this. It takes somebody very low in my opinion to take money from a grieving family,” Brose said.
In the meantime, the Blanock family created their own GoFundMe account in response to the fake one.
"We did not create this campaign to solicit donations. Your continued prayers and support are all we ask for. However, if you feel the desire to make a donation, at least you can be sure that this will go to our family,” Blanock’s father wrote on the page.
A GoFundMe representative told Channel 11 News that its Trust and Safety Team began reviewing the fake account immediately.
If and when Cecil police find out the name or bank account attached to the fake page, they plan to prosecute.
