The fundraising platform GoFundMe has removed a campaign that was purportedly raising money to help find a missing South Jersey girl.

It's been more than 2 1/2 years since Dulce Alavez vanished from a park in Bridgeton.

Local, state and federal investigators continue to work the case, but precious few leads have been uncovered.

Dulce was five-years-old when she disappeared.

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As the family prepares to celebrate her 8th birthday next month, social media posts started popping up asking for money to hire a private investigator. The organizer of the GoFundMe page stated they were a family member.

It was all a scam, preying on people's sympathies for the girl and her family.

Noema Alavez Perez, Dulce's mom, confirmed to NJ.com the family had nothing to do with the fundraiser.

As of this morning, the page has been taken down.

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GoFundMe representatives would not identify who posted the fundraiser, but say none of the money raised was given to the individual.

The family, meanwhile, is focused on celebrating Dulce's life and continuing to bring awareness to her disappearance.

A Disney themed celebration is planned for April 25 at the Bridgeton park where Dulce was last seen. Family, friends and community members will gather near Dulce's Tree, which was dedicated to honor the little girl, at 5 p.m.

Investigators still insist there is someone who knows something that will lead them to Dulce. A $75,000 reward is being offered for that information.

2022 Seaside Heights Polar Bear Plunge photos

More than 6,000 people took the plunge into the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 26, 2022 to raise more than $2 million for the Special Olympics New Jersey.

Best coffee shops & cafes near NJ beaches

When it comes to food, New Jersey is known for many things such as pizza and pork roll. Don't count us out when it comes to coffee.

With all the hustle and bustle involved in the average New Jersey resident's day, coffee is essential. It doesn't matter whether you're living in the cities of North Jersey or the vacation spots at the shore.

In fact, as the former owner of two Jersey shore coffee houses, Coffee Dot Comedy in Sea Isle City and the Daily Grind in Ocean Grove, I know firsthand how much people at the Jersey shore love their coffee.

With respect to that, I asked my social media following where the best coffee houses at the Jersey Shore were, especially since my two places no longer exist.

Below is what they came up with. (And see this other article for their coffee shop and cafe recommendations for Central Jersey.)

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