Fake funeral fundraiser showed $16,000, but Atlanta family got nothing

A grieving Atlanta family faced an unexpected financial struggle after the death of their 13-year-old son, Mason Towler, when fundraising campaigns created in his name failed to provide the money needed for his funeral.

A separate website later displayed $16,000 in donations linked to the boy's death, but his family said it never received those funds.

According to Atlanta News First, the ordeal involved unauthorised fundraising efforts, a suspected copycat website and weeks of uncertainty over funeral arrangements before a local funeral director stepped in to cover the costs.How did a fake fundraising website show $16,000 for Mason Towler's funeralThe online fundraising dispute followed the death of Mason Towler, who was killed on 29 January 2026 after wandering from his home and entering traffic on Interstate 75 near Cleveland Avenue in Atlanta.