Little Egg Harbor Woman Charged With Creating Fake GoFundMe's

The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office says a woman from Little Egg Harbor has been charged in connection to creating fake GoFundMe campaigns.

33-year-old Holly Garcia was charged with computer criminal activity (second degree) and attempted theft by deception (third degree). Garcia was taken into custody on September 24th and released last week following an initial court appearance. The case will now be prepared for presentation to a grand jury for possible indictment.

Authorities say Garcia created several GoFundMe campaigns, many centered around her 4-year-old son who had been adopted by a Pemberton Township couple after she signed away her parental rights.

The prosecutor's office says,

The investigation began in June after a couple from Pemberton Township who recently adopted Garcia’s 4-year-old son contacted police to say that his photo was being used in a GoFundMe campaign seeking $5,000 for funeral expenses for a child who had reportedly died from cancer.

The investigation revealed that Garcia created the campaign. Further investigation determined that Garcia had created multiple fictitious GoFundMe campaigns seeking money for the following: an urn for her dead son’s ashes; assistance for her 4-year-old son who is going blind in one eye (and whose father had died); assistance for her unborn child; a stroller for her two-month old son, who was born premature; and assistance raising rent money for an apartment, because she claimed she was four months pregnant and homeless.

Cops say over $11,300 was raised but Garcia didn't receive any money as GoFundMe was notified that the fundraising was not legitimate.