Two people have been arrested for allegedly using a fake sob story to collect cash from good Samaritans trying to help pay for a child’s funeral.
The arrests happened Sunday after police responded to reports of panhandlers walking in and out of traffic at the intersection of Sanderson and Stetson avenues in Hemet.
According to the Hemet Police Department, the panhandlers were carrying signs with the photo of a child claiming he died in a traffic collision and they were raising money for his funeral.
The suspects had left the area before police arrived, but officers were able to get a description of their vehicle using local camera footage and stopped it shortly after on the 100 block of North Sanderson Avenue.
The driver, identified as Marius Stan, and the passenger, Malvina Stan, were questioned separately about the child’s identity, at which point they gave conflicting backstories about his alleged death, police said.
-
Two alleged scammers were arrested in Hemet after soliciting donations for a fake funeral of a child on Feb. 23, 2025. (Hemet Police Department) -
A Romanian news article shows the photo of a child that was used by scammers to solicit donations for a funeral and were arrested Feb. 23, 2025. (Hemet Police Department)
Police later confirmed that the photo used in the signs actually came from a 2011 news article in Romania regarding a child who was missing.
“Officers also discovered multiple forms of identification, EBT cards, passports, and other evidence supporting allegations of fraudulent activity,” the Police Department said.
The couple was arrested and transported to Riverside County Jail to await charges for soliciting money under false pretenses.
The missing child in the Romanian news article was ultimately located safe, police added.
