Tiverton police are cautioning people against giving money to an on-line fundraiser until they can learn more about a Facebook report of alleged destruction of a Tiverton beekeeper’s bee hives.

“We have received several calls concerning claims of damage to beehives located in town,” the Tiverton Police Department’s Facebook post reads. “The alleged victims have started various fundraising efforts via social media and Go Fund Me. We are questioning the legitimacy of these claims. We are advising people to not donate to this cause until a complete investigation can be conducted and the allegations verified.”

Police were referring to a Wednesday Facebook post that stated, “Sad news here at Ocean Side Honey. I learned today that our bee yard was hit by vandals. Sometime last night someone went into the bee yard and tipped over all the hives, smashed them and doused them with diesel fuel. Not a single bee survived. In all 5.5 million bees are now gone. All the honey is mixed with fuel. Police are investigating. A total loss. Needless to say but there will be no honey this year. I have a long road ahead to rebuild what I have lost and will keep you informed.”

That post had been placed onto the Facebook site of another local food company.

But efforts by police and media to confirm the story proved challenging.

A police spokeswoman contacted by the Sakonnet Times early Wednesday afternoon said police had had no success locating Ocean State Honey or the Tiverton man who supposedly owns it.

Attempts to reach out to the "victim" via Facebook also proved fruitless — he was said to be reluctant to participate in news media interviews.

The post was taken down later in the afternoon but before that happened, a GoFundMe fundraiser had brought in donations of over $700.

In a similar (and legitimate) case in January, 2018, that received nationwide coverage, a California beekeeper’s hives were knocked over and doused with diesel fuel, killing the bees.

In its “guarantee policy,” GoFundMe states, “donations are protected if campaign funds are not delivered to the intended beneficiary or donors are misled by a campaign organizer or beneficiary.”