Kim Kardashian falls victim to fundraising scam after fraudsters use her name to target victims of the LA bushfires
Kim Kardashian has urged followers to be aware of scams after her name was linked to a fake fundraiser purportedly for the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires.
So far, the devastating inferno has destroyed 40,000 acres in LA’s most affluent neighborhoods, wiping out 12,300 celebrity homes and A-list restaurant hotspots.
As the official death toll rises to 24, concerned residents are preparing for another 72 hours of hellish weather expected to push the fires in new directions.
And Kardashian, 44, who owns a sprawling property in The Oaks – an exclusive gated community close to the epicenter of the fire – has since alerted her prodigious social media to fraudulent fundraising emails.
She shared a photo of one such scam – presented as a campaign launched by the TV personality to raise money for those affected by the disaster – and wrote: ‘Beware of scammers!
‘This isn’t real, if someone gets an email like that. How terrible.’
Kim Kardashian has urged her followers to be aware of a scam after her name was linked to a fake fundraiser purportedly for the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires.
She shared a photo of one such scam – presented as a campaign launched by the TV personality to raise money for those affected by the disaster – and wrote: “Beware of scammers!”
She highlighted another fraudulent email – titled Kim Kardashian Campaigns For Affected People In LA and riddled with grammatical errors – adding: “This email is NOT me!”
Kardashian previously gave a special shoutout to the firefighters currently battling the devastating wildfires spreading across Southern California.
The TV personality – who has been branded ‘wasteful’ along with other stars for breaking water-saving rules – shared a message on her Instagram stories on Saturday as the fires continue to rage.
She wrote: “I have watched my city burn this past week. And I have seen and spoken to many firefighters who are up all night, using all their strength to save our community.”
“Thank you to @calfire la County Fire and Los Angeles City Fire for all you do to save lives, homes and property.”
In another slide, the reality star added, “All five fires in Los Angeles have hundreds of firefighters trapped, risking their lives to save us.”
Kardashian said they “work 24 hours a day” at both the Palisades and the Eaton Fires.
“They get paid next to nothing, risk their lives, some have died, to prove to the community that they have changed and are now first responders. I see them as heroes.’
So far, the inferno has destroyed 40,000 acres in LA’s most affluent neighborhoods, wiping out celebrity homes and A-list restaurant hotspots among its 12,300 buildings
Kardashian has since alerted her prodigious social media to fraudulent fundraising emails containing her name
She explained to her followers that since 1984, incarcerated firefighters have been paid $1 an hour “for risking their lives.”
“It has never increased with inflation,” Kim noted. “It was never brought up as the fires got worse and many died.”
“This year there was an agreement to increase inmate firefighter pay to $5/hour, but that was shot down at the last minute.”
Kardashian then referenced California Governor Gavin Newson, writing: “I urge @cagovernor to do what no governor has done in four decades…”
“And increase inmate firefighter pay to a rate that honors a human being who risks his life to save our lives and homes.”
Finally, the mother of four also expressed her gratitude to the firefighters who helped save her community, which was threatened by the Kenneth Fire that started Thursday.
Kardashian previously gave a special shoutout to the firefighters currently battling the devastating wildfires spreading across Southern California
Kardashian and her family were evacuated from their mansions in Calabasas and Hidden Hills due to the fire, but the evacuation orders were later lifted.
The Kenneth fire is now 80% contained and an arson suspect was arrested this week, prompting Khloe Kardashian to express her angry response on social media.
“I want to thank the firefighters at the @calfire Ventura Training Center for saving my community when it started burning this week,” Kim wrote.
“These are all FORMER inmate firefighters who have come home and want to continue serving our community as firefighters.”
She said: ‘Thanks to bills passed by @antirecidivismcoalition, these boys can now have their sentences reduced, removing the offenses from their records for their fire service.
“And when they come home, they can get six-figure jobs in the fire service.”
The TV personality shared the message on her Instagram stories on Saturday as the fires continue to rage
Kardashian said they “work 24 hours a day” at both the Palisades and the Eaton Fires
Finally, the mother of four also expressed her gratitude to the firefighters who helped save her community, which was threatened by the Kenneth Fire that started Thursday.