Woman arrested, charged in $7,000 GoFundMe fraud in Alamance County

GRAHAM. N.C. (WTVD) -- A woman was arrested and charged for what authorities called a GoFundMe scam.

On Thursday, Graham Police said they received tips on May 3 that Brandi Michelle Baxter started a GoFundMe fundraiser as a way to raise money for her father's surgery. Police said an investigation found that Baxter collected more than $7,000 and kept the money to herself.

Baxter, 43, was charged Wednesday in Orange County with three counts of obtaining property by false pretenses

She is being held at the Alamance County Detention Center on a $2,500 secured bond.

A spokesperson for GoFundMe issued a statement after Baxter's arrest:

"GoFundMe has zero tolerance for the misuse of our platform and we cooperate with law enforcement investigations of those accused of wrongdoing. We have removed this fundraiser and banned the organizer from using the platform for any future fundraisers. After learning of this incident, GoFundMe delivered funds directly to the intended beneficiary to honor the donations that had been made for his medical expenses. In the very rare case that funds are misused, our donors and beneficiaries are fully protected by GoFundMe's Giving Guarantee."