A grieving mother has spoken of her anguish after discovering scammers were impersonating her online, using photos and videos of her late daughter in a neonatal intensive care unit to solicit donations.
Lexi Copley, from Georgia, said she was left "spiraling" after receiving a message on TikTok two days after the death of her four-month-old daughter, Landry. A search revealed a fake account using her name, her baby's face and personal family photographs, alongside a PayPal link requesting money to "save" Landry.
Landry had been born with a rare cloacal malformation, a bladder obstruction affecting one in 25,000 newborns. Despite a poor prognosis, the couple refused to terminate the pregnancy. Lexi had documented her journey on social media, gaining tens of thousands of followers as she sought prayers and community.
Doctors had warned that Landry was unlikely to survive delivery. She was delivered by caesarean section at 33 weeks and was critically ill, but improved when placed in her mother's arms. After four months in hospital, she was set to go home when she suffered a pulmonary haemorrhage in late December and died.
Lexi reported the imposter account to the Haralson County Sheriff's Office, but Corporal Robin Hood said such scams can originate anywhere in the world, making them difficult to prosecute. Lexi said she never asked for money and wants to raise awareness, insisting: "I'm not going to let it go."
