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The heartbreak of a shattered family has been compounded by con artists trying to profit from the death of a young mother in a car crash just before Christmas.
Rebecca Pumphrey, 32, was killed in front of her two young children when their vehicle crashed into a power pole in the southern suburbs of Perth on December 22.
In harrowing scenes, Mrs Pumphrey’s 11-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son were pulled from the rubble screaming for their mother by members of the public.
They were taken to Perth Children’s Hospital with minor injuries.
Rebecca Pumphrey’s (pictured) heartbreak has been made worse by evil con artists trying to profit from the young mother’s death in a tragic car accident just before Christmas.
But Ms Pumphrey could not be revived after her Ford Fiesta hatchback struck the power pole on Willmott Drive, Cooloongup, and swerved into a neighboring property around 11pm.
The impact of the accident cut power to 59 homes in the southern suburb of Perth.
Outraged family members have since warned supporters that scammers with no connection to the family had created bogus online fundraisers.
“Be aware the media shared his name, people are trying to steal money from this tragedy that has affected our family,” his devastated brother Sam Pumphrey wrote on Facebook on Christmas Eve.
“There are some fake GoFundMe accounts for Rebecca’s kids,” another family member wrote.
“These accounts have not been made by anyone in the family and the children may not see a penny.”
Pumphrey shared footage of the fake fundraiser with Daily Mail Australia on Christmas Day and stood by his claim that he has no connection to the family.
The approved family fundraiser for Rebecca Pumphrey, 32, who tragically died in a car accident on December 22.
Pumphrey shared footage of the fake fundraiser with Daily Mail Australia on Christmas Day and stood by his claim that he has no connection to the family.
Ms Pumphrey’s cousin Di Hall shared a link to the family’s only official GoFundMe page – who was struggling to raise funds, possibly due to confusion over multiple pages.
As of Christmas Day at 4:00 p.m., he had $1,800 of a modest goal of $10,000.
“Sadly, Bec lost her life in a horrific car accident Thursday night,” the page read.
“We are trying to raise money for his funeral and some funds to help support his three beautiful children and move on.”
Hayden Stobbs was one of the first people to arrive at the crash site after hearing the impact of the car.
Rebecca Pumphrey, 32, died in front of her two young children when her hatchback crashed into a power pole in the southern suburbs of Perth on December 22.
Outraged family members warned that people with no connection to the family created fake online fundraisers by sharing the link to the official GoFundMe page.
‘I heard two massive thumps and then a crash [and I’ve] I went out in front to see a girl screaming for help’, he told her 9News.
“She said ‘my mom has been in a car accident and my brother is still stuck in the car’.”
Stobbs said the eight-year-old was in “a lot of pain”, possibly with broken bones.
Off-duty nurse Maddison Clarke was also among the first to respond and checked the affected mother’s pulse, but found it “definitely wasn’t there.”
Pumphrey is believed to have dropped the children off at his father’s home in Perth after driving from Boddington some 130km to the south-east.
WA Police are requesting dashcam footage of any witnesses as they investigate the fatal crash.
Flowers and tributes were left at the crash site on Friday.
A friend described Mrs. Pumphrey as “a dedicated mother who put her children first.”
Another said she was “always smiling and happy and would do anything for her children.”
In harrowing scenes, Mrs Pumphrey’s 11-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son were pulled from the rubble screaming for their mother by members of the public.
WA Premier Mark McGowan offered his condolences to Ms Pumphrey’s family.
“This is a tragic situation and my sincere condolences go out to the families and the local community affected,” he said.
McGowan also urged drivers to “look out for each other.”