It's a real pity that these type of things take place. I recall (although I don't remember the specifics) fraudulent claims of financial distress which sucked in a whole BUNCH of people a couple of years ago - many cases of husbands reporting "missing wives" after having murdered them - again sucking in the public, and other variations on the theme.
It's unfortunate because, every time I hear such a story - I have a tendency to suspend belief for a while - until it's verified.
This means that I don't contribute funds to "the cause", if such is the intent or necessity, for ANY such reports. And SOMETIMES, (not too bloody often - says the cynic in me) these types of claims ARE true - and my dollars would be well spent - but my dollars aren't there because of fraudsters like this.