The mother of a Scottish teenager, who has been missing for over a month, has issued a warning about a fraudulent fundraising attempt exploiting her son’s disappearance. Viktoria Benga advised the public not to contribute to an online fundraiser supposedly aimed at supporting the search for her missing 16-year-old son, Aleksandr. The schoolboy was last spotted on November 18 near the water wheel within the Lewis Castle grounds in Stornoway at about 8.45 am and has not been heard from since. Law enforcement units from Aberdeen and Inverness have joined in the extensive search efforts, alongside other supporting agencies.
Viktoria took to social media to clarify that neither she nor her family had initiated any fundraising activities for Aleksandr and cautioned against sending money to any such cause. The police have urged individuals with information or dash-cam recordings to come forward to aid in tracing Aleksandr’s whereabouts. Described as 6ft 2ins tall, slim with short brown hair, Aleksandr was last seen wearing a beige jumper, black jeans, and a yellow beanie hat.
Inspector David Hall expressed deep concern for Aleksandr’s well-being, especially in light of the recent cold weather conditions, and shared that despite thorough search efforts and appeals, Aleksandr remains untraceable. The police have been unable to determine the exact path Aleksandr took after departing from the water wheel area. Drivers with dashcams who travelled on specific routes during the morning of November 18 have been requested to reach out to the authorities with any potential footage.
In addition, Police Scotland highlighted a potential fraudulent fundraising initiative circulating on social media related to Aleksandr’s search and emphasized that his family had not initiated any fundraising activities. The public was urged to exercise caution with such webpages and report any suspicious activities to the police.
In conclusion, the heart-wrenching ordeal faced by Aleksandr Benga’s family and the extensive search efforts underline the gravity of the situation. The warning about fraudulent fundraising serves as a reminder for the public to remain vigilant and support genuine efforts to locate missing individuals responsibly and effectively. The collaborative search operations and appeals for information demonstrate the community’s unity in safeguarding its members during challenging times.