PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Over the weekend, KDKA reported a sad update to a tragic situation: Online scammers are attempting to capitalize on the death of Corey Comperatore, the former firefighter who was killed by a would-be assassin at the July 13 rally for Donald Trump in Butler County.

Last week, a false Facebook account in Comperatore’s name appeared to ask for donations to assist with funeral expenses. The account was not genuine; Comperatore’s sister told KDKA, “We never have asked for donations, nor will we.”

I suppose such an update is unsurprising in an age of rampant misinformation and predatory behavior on the internet, but even in such an era, it’s staggering to think that anyone would see a life cut short in such a tragic manner and seize it as an opportunity to exploit others.

It’s sick, even for the internet — which is saying something.

It’s also a lesson in vigilance when dealing with email and social media. A shocking $12.5 billion was lost to online scammers in 2023. (Amazon also recently warned customers of a rise in hoaxes related to Prime accounts.) This is a thriving industry built on confusion and mistrust; while there will always be people looking to steal, it’s shocking to consider the scope of this particular predicament.

We can remain vigilant by approaching any request for money, no matter how routine and innocuous, as potentially fraudulent. Don’t be in the habit of paying bills because an email told you to; go to the website of your gas company or cable provider and pay them directly. (You can also still pay most bills in person, which adds a bit of retro charm to the endeavor.)

We particularly need to educate older family members — those who did not grow up with the internet and are less familiar with ever-evolving methods of trickery — how to identify and avoid online scams. (The FDIC has a good roundup on this.)

Moreover, though, the scam surrounding Comperatore’s death reminded me that good information generally does not come from social-media posts. It’s an illusion to think that online forums could become an equitable and trustworthy place; we’ve had three decades to observe social platforms gradually getting less reliable, not moreso.

The world’s richest man, who is doing an impressive job of eroding both his reputation and his bank account, speaks of social media as a digital town square. He’s missing the full picture of that metaphor: In the town square, anyone can wander in and say anything, and there’s no way to know if what is said is true — or if the person in this virtual community is trying to rip you off in one way or another.

Actual information is vetted and presented in reliable places. Using Comperatore’s death as a sad example, if there were a fundraiser for his family, it would’ve been widely reported; every local media outlet would’ve given it attention, and it likely would’ve been organized on a reputable crowdfunding platform such as GoFundMe. It would not have arrived as a plea on a Facebook post.

It’s a particularly sad reminder that social media remains at its best when it’s a space for entertainment and diversion not a replacement for reality.

It’s also a sad reminder of how low some folks will stoop to get money for nothing — but that’s a bigger problem.

By the way, Comperatore’s sister had a good idea: If you are inclined to make a donation in his memory, make it to your local volunteer fire department. They’re always in need of support and happy to put your donation to good use.

Hopefully her suggestion is heeded. Fortunately, it was delivered via a reliable outlet: A legitimate news report.