Search group warns against fake fundraiser exploiting two children missing in N.S.
Paul Service, director of the volunteer organization, says a GoFundMe campaign attempted to raise $100,000 to fund a drone to search for four-year-old Jack Sullivan and six-year-old Lilly Sullivan.
A large-scale search was launched for the two children after they disappeared on May 2 in Lansdowne Station, N.S., and there have been two, smaller efforts since then involving volunteer searchers.
1:56
Missing N.S. children: RCMP narrow down timeline of disappearance
The non-profit group says it doesn't normally request donations through GoFundMe and doesn't base its campaigns on particular searches.
Story continues below advertisement
Service says a representative from GoFundMe contacted him to say it was taking down the site and investigating after the campaign was reported on CBC.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
He says that it is disheartening for his group to have to cope with scams, as it may discourage the public from donating to his group's legitimate fundraising efforts.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2025.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
an hour ago
- Global News
Canada, allies warn Iran working to ‘kill, kidnap and harass' people abroad
Canada joined the United States and 12 European allies Thursday in condemning what they said is a 'growing number of state threats' by Iran's intelligence services against people abroad, including dissidents, journalists and Jewish citizens of their countries. The joint statement issued by the U.S. State Department called attempts by Iran to 'kill, kidnap, and harass people in Europe and North America' a 'clear violation' of those nations' sovereignty. 'These services are increasingly collaborating with international criminal organizations to target journalists, dissidents, Jewish citizens, and current and former officials in Europe and North America,' the statement said. 'This is unacceptable.' The countries said they are committed to working together to prevent such attacks and called on Iran to 'immediately put an end to such illegal activities in our respective territories.' Story continues below advertisement 2:07 'The world would be a better place': Iranian-Canadians hope for end to Islamic Republic rule Iran has long been accused by the U.S., Canada and European nations of conducting transnational repression operations against Iranian dissidents abroad, as well as critics of the regime in Tehran. Former Liberal justice minister Irwin Cotler, a vocal critic of the Iranian regime, told Global News last year his security detail was temporarily increased to its 'highest level' due to an imminent assassination threat. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Cotler said he was first told Iran was behind an 'imminent and lethal threat on my life' in November 2023 — shortly after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Iran-backed Hamas — and has been under RCMP protection ever since. 'I see this as a phenomenon not related to me personally, but to the larger threatening concern of transnational repression and assassination,' he said. Story continues below advertisement 'This has to be seen as a wake-up call for the community of democracies because this is a direct threat to our security, to our democracy and to our human rights.' Iran has been accused of hiring Hells Angels members in Canada to carry out killings, and immigration officials have found over a dozen senior Iranian regime members illegally living in Canada to date. Documents released by the public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada revealed Iranian Canadians are increasingly concerned about former officials from the Iranian regime targeting diaspora members and community organizations. Canada 'is known as a safe haven for Islamic regime officials and their families,' Tehran-born human rights activist Nazanin Afshin-Jam MacKay said in her presentation to the Hogue Commission during public consultations last year, according to the documents. 11:12 Canada is 'a haven for Islamic Republic agents' warns Iranian human rights activist Canada listed Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization last year, and declared senior Iranian government and security agency officials inadmissible to Canada due to involvement in terrorism and human rights violations. Story continues below advertisement Yet the government has also had difficulty removing former regime officials from the country, with deportation orders issued to just three individuals out of 12 ongoing cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board, officials said in June. The FBI and U.S. prosecutors last year revealed multiple alleged Iranian plots to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump in the run-up to November's U.S. presidential election. A threat on Trump's life from Iran prompted additional security in the days before a July campaign rally in Pennsylvania where Trump was shot in the ear, according to U.S. officials. But officials at the time said they did not believe Iran was connected to that assassination attempt. The U.S. Justice Department announced in November that an Iranian plot to kill Trump in the weeks before the presidential election had been thwarted. 1:35 FBI thwarts alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Trump Trump ordered a U.S. military strike on Iran during his first term that killed Qassem Soleimani, who led the IRGC's Quds Force. Iran vowed revenge against Trump and members of his first administration, including his former national security advisor John Bolton and former secretary of state Mike Pompeo. Story continues below advertisement The criminal complaint that revealed the alleged plot against Trump also said two people were arrested and charged for their alleged involvement in a plot to murder an American-Iranian journalist and critic of the Iranian regime in New York. The FBI also said during the U.S. election that Iranian hackers sought to interest then-president Joe Biden's campaign in information allegedly stolen from Trump's campaign last summer. There's no evidence that any of the recipients responded, officials said at the time. —With files from Global's Stewart Bell and the Associated Press
Global News
an hour ago
- Global News
‘Opportunistic theft': Hamilton police charge woman in theft from Good Samaritan
Hamilton police have arrested a woman in connection with a theft that occurred during the chaotic aftermath of a fatal shooting in the city's downtown core earlier this month. According to a police news release, on July 11, 26-year-old Belinda Sarkodie was fatally shot in broad daylight near King Street East and James Street North. As police and members of the public rushed to help, one Good Samaritan, who had stepped in to assist Sarkodie, became the victim of an 'opportunistic theft,' the statement read. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Police say the individual's purse, containing ID, bank cards and other valuables, was stolen from the scene. After reviewing surveillance footage, analyzing bank activity and conducting interviews, investigators identified the suspect as a 35-year-old female from Hamilton. The individual has been charged with theft, fraud, possession of stolen property, use and possession of credit cards and failing to comply with probation. Story continues below advertisement She was arrested without incident and remains in custody. Police say the incident highlights the contrast between the compassion shown by citizens during a crisis and those who choose to take advantage. They thanked the individuals who assisted Sarkodie during the initial shooting and said the investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact police or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Trio sought by police in northern Alberta reckless driving spree
Three men RCMP in Beaverlodge, Alta., are looking for in a reckless driving incident on July 19, 2025. Police in northern Alberta are looking for three men who were driving recklessly overnight two weekends ago. RCMP in Beaverlodge said in a media release Thursday they received reports at 2:31 a.m. on Saturday, July 19, of the men driving all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) while possibly intoxicated. Officers went to the scene near the Circle K on 1 Avenue in Beaverlodge, RCMP told CTV News Edmonton, where they confronted the trio, who fled on an ATV. RCMP said the men returned on another ATV while driving recklessly, failing to stop at stop signs, nearly rear-ended a police cruiser among other vehicles, then fled the area again. During an investigation into the incident, police obtained photos of the men they suspect are responsible and shared them with media. Beaverlodge is 40 kilometres west of Grande Prairie and 462 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. Police ask anyone who recognizes the men or who has information about the incident is to call Beaverlodge RCMP at 780-354-2485.
