The family of Kaysey Yoder, a mother of four who has been missing for months, recently revealed that they were targeted by scammers looking to capitalize on their pain and anguish as they struggle to maintain hope that she will be found safe. Tami Ruth, the grieving mother of Kaysey Yoder, 34, from Colorado, was devastated when her family received fake messages on Facebook from scammers claiming to be her daughter who vanished in January.
Ruth told CBS News that the message read: “You give me the money, I’ll be back tomorrow.” The heartbroken grandma said, “It’s been so terrible. I’m falling apart at the seams,” referring to the immense mental stress she has experienced.
The Weld County Sheriff’s Office had previously put out a call for public assistance in locating Yoder, who left her home on January 14th around 4 p.m. and never returned. The sheriff’s department stated that “no criminal act is suspected” in her disappearance.
While the family believes that the sheriff’s post helped to spread the word about Yoder’s disappearance, it appears that the news reached bad actors who sought to exploit the loved ones of the missing woman. Yoder’s 9-year-old son, Havyn, was the one who received messages from his mother, excitedly running to his grandmother with the news that she would be returning the following day.
However, Ruth quickly realized that the person on the other end of the messages was not her daughter, as they were unable to answer basic questions that Yoder would know. The scammer then claimed that they could not remember the answers because they had been severely beaten by kidnappers and were currently in Russia.
I go, ‘You’re not my daughter. I gotta find my daughter,’ ” Ruth said before ending the conversation. The devastated mother reported the incident to the police as well as Justice Takes Flight, a Colorado-based nonprofit organization that assists families of missing individuals.
The Weld Sheriff’s Office stated that they have followed up on about 50 tips regarding Yoder’s disappearance, including alleged sightings; however, there are still no solid clues as to her whereabouts. In a statement, the sheriff’s office said: “Unfortunately, these investigative efforts have not uncovered where Kaysey went or where she is now, but no criminal act is suspected involving Kasey’s departure from home.
