Help Eddie rebuild his LIFE after being scammed

Hello, my name is Nicole, and I'm setting up this fundraiser on behalf of my dad. A couple of months ago, he discovered his social security number was compromised after not receiving his social security check for a couple of months. With his brother's help, he got things squared away and relied on his savings in the interim. Awesome, right...not so. These skilled hackers, perhaps the ones that compromised his social security number, started harassing him over the phone. They gave him a way out by paying cash and gift cards if he wanted to keep his credit in good standing. He mentioned that people knew he had a child and grandkids. This man began acting like my dad's friend and as if he was there to make it all right if he just did everything he said.

Eddie is a dad, grandpa, uncle, devoted friend and Vietnam Veteran. Anyone that knows him knows that he would give the shirt off his back, even if it were his only one, to someone in need. My dad never told me that he was up all hours of the day and night completing these seemingly crazy requests, all in hopes of keeping his good name, credit, savings, and the safety of his family. He thought he was doing the right thing and didn't want to bother anyone and ask for help. That was until it was too late, until almost all of his money was gone. That's when I got the call, still not from him, but from my aunt. He was so embarrassed and proud to admit that he was taken.

As soon as I got the call from my aunt that my dad was frantic, I headed down to him, called and canceled all credit cards while my dad sat there, with his head in his hands, defeated. Disgusted and embarrassed at the so-called "hassle" he caused. The news we got from the detectives and credit card companies was rather grim. After all, he voluntarily made and authorized all of the purchases and sent money. The issue is laws have not caught up with these scams. He thought he was speaking to someone in power; he felt he was doing the right thing, albeit under duress.

We know he has no chance at getting back over $40,000 in cash that he laid out. We are still working with the credit card companies as he willingly made the purchases.

I am asking as a daughter who feels helpless and is unsure what else to do to (1.) share this scam with others. (2.) to help my dad in any way possible. We will make sure he doesn't go hungry or without a place to live. I need to help rebuild what he has worked so hard for.