TikTok and PayPal scammers target Armstrong Creek family tragedy as Koa Gibson, 4, dies

A TikTok scammer is targeting the grief-stricken community just days after the death of a four-year-old girl from Geelong.

An Armstrong Creek is mourning the death of their “warrior princess”.

A heartbroken Geelong family says “scum of the earth” online scammers are trying to profit from their tragedy as they grapple with the loss of their four-year-old “warrior princess”.

Koa Eve Gibson died on Friday after a lengthy fight with a congenital brain abnormality and other severe health conditions.

Koa breathed her last breath snuggled into bed with her family, as the music therapists she loved sang to her. Her parents, Aleisha Koopman and Ben Gibson, and sisters Ava and Sky said they were “destroyed” by the loss of their daughter and sister.

“Koa fought so hard to stay apart of our family up until the very end,” Ms Koopman said.

“Our sweet, caring, loving, kind, gentle, cheeky, resilient, brave and strong baby girl took her last breath being cuddled by her Mummy, Daddy and big sister Ava in bed all together.

“My heart is destroyed.”

But the pain of loved ones has been made worse by alleged callous grifters, appearing to using TikTok and PayPal to pose as the family and ask for money.

Koa’s Instagram account, koa.the.warrior.princess, run by her mum, has 12.7k followers.

On Monday, Ms Koopman took to the account to warn followers a fake TikTok account with a similar name – koatheworriesprincess – had been set up claiming to be the family and asking for donations.

“This scum of the earth is posting as Koa/us,” Ms Koopman said on her genuine Instagram account.

Following Koa’s death on Friday, the TikTok account began reposting multiple videos originally posted by Koa’s family on Instagram alongside a “donations link” in bio which sends users directly to a private PayPal account.

Koa Gibson, at 3 with her family, dad Ben, big sister Ava, mum Aleisha and little sister Sky. The family lives in Armstrong Creek

Ms Koopman said she was shocked by the scam account and had to create her own TikTok to

report the page as a scam.

It’s understood TikTok permenantly banned one account on Tuesday afternoon after it was reported.

She said she wanted Koa’s legacy to live on and inspire others.

“I just want the world to know that Koa fought,” Ms Koopman said.

“She was faced with so much adversity and she fought in a world that wasn’t kind for her but “I just hope that Koa inspired people with disabilities and medical conditions and families to keep going.

“I hope she’s inspired even typical families to appreciate the small things in life and to cuddle their children. I had to fight so hard from the moment koa was born I want her legacy to live on. Good things to come because we’ve been in a world of pain.”

Koa faced a fight from the start of her life. At just five weeks old the Armstrong Creek girl was diagnosed with an incurable neurological brain disorder called Lissencephaly.

Lissencephaly occurs when the brain’s surface lacks normal folds and grooves, leading to a smooth appearance.

Koa also suffered conditions including dystonia, daily seizures, cerebral palsy, cortical vision impairment, hypotonia, epilepsy, scoliosis and recurrent pneumonia.

“In Ava’s words: ‘Koa is now an angel she is no longer disabled, she can walk, dance, talk, sing, swim, run and play Mummy’,” Ms Koopman said.

In 2024 Koa was placed in palliative care.

Her family said at the time they were distressed that a new National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plan had replaced 24-hour nursing with high-intensity support workers.

They said the switch would likely cause Koa to die more quickly.

Ms Koopman said the family was taking time to rest but was not done fighting for “justice” after the ordeal.

The TikTok account allegedly posing as the mourning family.

In the wake of Koa’s death a legitimate GoFundMe website has also been established by family friend Lenka Markova alongside Koa’s mother.

Ms Markova said the community was family is raising money for a “magical farewell in memory of Eva”.

She said Koa’s family dreamt of a service filled with “fairies, butterflies, music”.

“A celebration of her bright spirit and the joy she brought to everyone she met,” Ms Markova said.

“To make this possible, we are reaching out to our community for help.”

Within 24 hours, the family’s GoFundMe page raised more than $5700.

In 2021, the Geelong community raised more than $27,000 to support Koa’s family through her diagnosis.

The fake TikTok account not disclosed how much as been received.

TikTok and PayPal have been contacted for comment.

Originally published as TikTok and PayPal scammers target Armstrong Creek family tragedy as Koa Gibson, 4, dies