A Louisiana mother has expressed her distress and fear after discovering that photographs of her young son were utilized in a GoFundMe catfish scam. The fraudulent online campaign falsely informed donors that the child had died.

Denika Sampson, of Moreauville, learned on July 1 that nearly 100 individuals had contacted her via social media. These messages indicated that a woman, identified as Stephanie Escobar, was circulating images of her son online. Escobar, whose now-deleted Facebook profile suggested she was from Atlantic City, New Jersey, allegedly posed as the mother of Sampson's child.

The scheme reportedly began when Escobar posted pictures of herself appearing pregnant. Once the baby was supposedly born, images of Sampson's son started appearing on Escobar's page, according to Sampson.

Escobar then posted on her Facebook page, claiming that she and the baby had been involved in a car accident. Her post stated that the child was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for 22 hours before passing away. Subsequently, Escobar initiated a GoFundMe fundraiser, using a photo of Sampson's living son and asserting that the child had died.

The GoFundMe page was quickly removed after online users reported it as a potential scam, Sampson told KLFY. Social media accounts associated with Escobar have since been deleted, and she has not made public posts. It remains unclear if the profile picture used was of a real person or was also fabricated.

Sampson, 43, stated that she was initially in disbelief, considering it a prank due to the unbelievable nature of the situation and questioning the motive. She now fears for her son's safety, concerned about the lengths to which a stranger might go, especially after this alleged deception.

"You know, she's gone this far, and no one knows what she's capable of," Sampson said, reflecting on the possibility of abduction. She is contemplating whether to delete her social media accounts or cease posting photos of her child due to the incident.

Sampson has shared her experience on Facebook, describing the situation as surreal. "I’m still in shock that this lady really used my child’s pictures and portrayed that he was her child in real life. People are really sick," she wrote. "My child that I carried. A parent’s worse nightmare."

The Moreauville Police Department is reportedly investigating the alleged scam. Sampson's son is described as a healthy toddler.