Scammers have set up a fraudulent GoFundMe page to exploit the recent death of Tulare County Detective Randy Hoppert, who was involved in a tragic standoff in the Central Valley last week.
Following the shooting death of a sheriff’s deputy during an eviction encounter in Porterville, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department cautioned the public about this deceptive fundraising effort posing as a way to support Hoppert’s family.
“Sheriff Boudreau wants to remind everyone to be cautious about this fake GoFundMe account claiming to represent the family of fallen TCSO Deputy Randy Hoppert,” the sheriff’s office warned on social media.
The department also shared a screenshot of one of these fraudulent pages, flagged with a “Fraud Alert,” attributed to a user named Vance Bookour.
In that post, the individual claimed the account was meant “to help families through this terrible tragedy” and that “all funds will go to the late son and wife of Ashley and Austin Hoppert.” Hoppert leaves behind his wife, Ashley, and two sons.
The account aimed to raise $8,000 but only managed to collect $340. Another similar page raised $840, with a target of $3,500.
A post from the sheriff’s office clarified that none of these GoFundMe pages were established by the family.
“Please be aware: Deputy Hoppert’s family did not endorse this GoFundMe and has not received any benefits from these donations,” the post stated.
GoFundMe is aware of the fraudulent page and has promised to withhold the funds until they can confirm the proper recipients.
“Our Trust & Safety team is closely monitoring the platform for any activity relating to this incident,” a spokesperson mentioned.
“We’re collaborating with organizers to verify information and ensure that funds are safely directed to their intended recipients.”
“Funds collected are securely held by our payment processor and will be available only to the beneficiaries. If the family decides not to accept a donation, all donors will receive a full refund.”
According to the sheriff’s office, two legitimate accounts have been set up by the family, one via the Deputy Sheriff Charitable Fund and the other through a meal train page.
The statement concluded: “This is the only verified donation page that benefits Deputy Hoppert’s family at this time. Please avoid falling for scams taking advantage of this situation.”
Last week, the incident garnered national attention. Sheriff Boudreaux later reported that the suspect who shot Hoppert was killed by a Bearcat vehicle.
“The suspect was in camouflage, lying on the ground and still posed a threat,” Boudreau explained to the press. “The situation has been addressed, and the suspect is deceased. He didn’t die from being shot. One of the Bearcats ran over him.”
“Don’t shoot a cop. If you shoot a cop, you’re risking your life. He got run over. That was his choice,” he added.
The TCSO released details about the funeral arrangements for the fallen deputy, expressing their deep sorrow and loss.
“With heavy hearts, Sheriff Mike Boudreau and the members of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office announce the funeral details for our fallen brother, Deputy Randy Hoppert Jr.,” the post shared.
