CNN has egg on their faces after they were conned into raising $230,000 by a woman who lied about being a single mom to three girls.
CNN viewers donated to Dasha Kelly’s GoFundMe account after she was interviewed about the recent eviction moratorium lapse.
Kelly told CNN reporter Nick Watt she is a “single mom” of three girls who faced eviction and they could all end up on the street.
During the report Kelly dabbed her dry eyes with a wad of tissue, as she explained she owed $1,900 in back rent.
Congresswoman Cori Bush (right) vowed to help Kelly and other single mothers like her.
“Dasha Kelly has started a GoFundMe page to try and cover that rent, $2,000. It’s a Hail Mary, she says she’s praying for a miracle, hoping for a miracle,” Watt told CNN viewers.
READ ALSO: The Internet says single mom with 11 children is a scammer
The GoFundMe raised over $230,000 for Kelly, who later admitted she lied about being the mother of the girls.
She told Watt the girls have a home — with their real mother.
She said she is the girlfriend of the children’s father, and the girls were staying with them for the summer.
CNN ran a disclaimer on the online version of the story.
“After CNN aired a story about her potential eviction, Dasha Kelly clarified to CNN that she is not the mother of the three children featured in the story. CNN has verified she takes care of the children in her home for periods of time. She says she originally described herself to CNN as a mother because she considers herself to be like one to them.”
GoFundMe says the cash in the account is frozen and no moneys were withdrawn.
This isn’t the first time a woman “borrowed” someone else’s children to defraud GoFundMe.
Last year Jessica Sumlin claimed she was a single mother of 11 children facing eviction.
Hundreds of people donated over $10,000 to her GoFundMe page.
"You know it's happening when we start talking about it… it's bringing all of my emotions."
Dasha Kelly is a single mom facing eviction over unpaid rent.
If you'd like to help, the family has set up a GoFundMe here: https://t.co/g7j4QuRk4b pic.twitter.com/FFYIjDvVe2
— OutFrontCNN (@OutFrontCNN) August 2, 2021
When I say your Congresswoman loves you, this is what I mean.
Kelly, I may not be your representative, but I love you and I will not stop working to make sure you and every person in our country has what they need to thrive. pic.twitter.com/qoDjn0xGnk
— Congresswoman Cori Bush (@RepCori) August 5, 2021