‘Homeless’ Viral Video A ‘Scam,’ Cons Viewers Into Donating Over $135,000

Monica Sanchez | January 2, 2015
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A heartwarming video-gone-viral that had raised over $135,000 in donations from viewers has become a subject of controversy after being labeled a scam.

The video under fire features an allegedly homeless man by the name of “Thomas Nickel” who is “captured” on video generously using a 100-dollar bill offered to him by YouTube personality Josh Paler Lin to buy food for others. 

Since posted on Dec. 22, the video has received more than 29 million views and prompted just under 7,000 people to donate over $135,000 in an effort to give Thomas “a fresh start.”

A man who claims to be the brother of the video’s star, Kevin Nickel, blasted the viral video as a hoax, reported CBS Los Angeles.

“This isn’t right,” he said.

Kevin told reporter Stacy Butler that his brother's name is actually Kenny Nickel, a mentally unstable alcoholic who lived with their parents until both passed away last summer. He added that Kenny is not penniless, either, but awaiting $150,000 from his parent’s estate.

“He’s sitting on money,” Kevin said, unsure of whether his brother is aware of the fundraising campaign supposedly being run on his behalf. "He chose this way of life."

“But this is a scam. This money needs to go to people who really need it.”

According to CBS Los Angeles, it is estimated that Lin has already made $52,000 from hits to his YouTube channel (a member since 2009), not counting the funds being raised on the Indiegogo page entitled “Help Thomas To Get A Fresh Start” Lin claimed he set up for the purportedly homeless man.

Lin continues to insist that the video is real and unscripted. 

An eyewitness to the filming called the entire stunt a fake, telling CBS Los Angeles that he saw Thomas in Lin’s car when Lin claimed the supposedly homeless man had no clue he was being filmed.

“I was there,” says witness Taugan Kadalim. “They didn’t ‘follow’ him. They drove him there [to the liquor store.]”

Kadalim told Butler that he believes Thomas is really homeless, but that the video itself was staged.

“I think the manner in how they portrayed the entire video is deceitful,” he said. “And dishonest.”

Watch the original video in question below and decide for yourself. 

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