Tata death: Fake crowdfunding page set up for Justin Day

Image source, Wales News Service

Image caption, Justin Day worked for contractors Mii Engineering, of Bedwas, Caerphilly

A fake funeral crowdfunding appeal has been set up for a man who died in an accident at Tata's Port Talbot steelworks.

Justin Day, 44, from Swansea was killed on Wednesday in what South Wales Police described as "an isolated incident".

Posting on Facebook, his widow Zoe Day said a GoGetFunding page using a fake profile had been created in her name and warned people not to donate to it.

The website said it had been notified within hours of the appeal going up.

GoGetFunding said it was very common for "fraudsters" to use all crowdfunding platforms, adding they "usually use campaigns that are highly emotive such as funerals and memorials or animal cruelty where donors may not be as guarded regarding donating as they may not even consider someone would be heartless enough to create such an account".

South Wales Police said it was aware of the claims but had not received a complaint.

Image caption, Emergency services were sent to Tata

Family friend Donna Louise Jones said she reported the the fake fundraising page "Justin Day Funeral Fund" to the police.

She said it had raised 拢40 before it was taken down: "The people who donated will have to claim that money back themselves. I've contacted one because I knew her but I can't contact the other two.

"There were three donations made, one for 拢20 and two for 拢10. The 拢20 donation was from a woman in Australia."

A genuine appeal has been set up on another crowdfunding website GoFundMe.

It has received more than 拢7,000 of the original goal of 拢3,000, and has received almost 400 donations since it was set up four days ago.

Ms Jones said her friend was grateful for the money.

"She was so relieved," she said. "She wants to give him the send off he deserves."