Athens, Ala. (WDNews) – Authorities say an Athens woman exploited her TikTok platform to collect nearly $1 million in donations for a fraudulent charity.
Amy Downs, known online as Slot_7.0 or Slotmachinequeen, was arrested on multiple counts of charitable fraud and tax evasion after an investigation revealed she had solicited funds for a non-existent charity. Downs claimed the money would support domestic violence victims and homeless individuals, directing donations to her personal PayPal, CashApp, and Venmo accounts.
Between 2021 and 2024, Downs allegedly deposited substantial contributions from followers worldwide into her personal bank account. Authorities confirmed no legitimate charity was registered under her name, and she had not reported employment since 2020.
In a shocking twist, Downs had been nominated this year for a social media influencer award recognizing individuals who use their platforms for good. During an interview, she stated, “I do DV help for immediate danger DV victims and homeless.”
Limestone County authorities charged Downs with seven counts of first-degree charitable fraud and three counts of tax evasion. She was held in the Limestone County Jail on a $1,125,000 bond but has since bonded out.
Downs’ TikTok account appears to have been deleted, and the investigation is ongoing. Authorities encourage anyone with information about her activities to come forward.
This case underscores the need for donors to verify the legitimacy of charities before contributing.
