SCAM AWARENESSCrowdfunding impersonation
Crowdfunding impersonation scams create fake fundraising pages using the names, photos, and stories of real people. After an accident, illness, death, or disaster makes the news, scammers quickly set up a page claiming to help the family. The money goes to the scammer, not to the people in the story.
How this scam works
Scammers watch the news and social media for tragedies that get attention. They copy photos and details from news articles, obituaries, or family posts, then set up a fundraising page or social media post. Sometimes they pretend to be a relative or close friend. They share the link in community groups and comment threads where people want to help.
Some versions skip the crowdfunding site entirely and ask for donations through payment apps or direct messages. Others create several copycat pages for the same event. Because the story is real, it can be hard to tell the difference. Donors may only find out when the real family posts that they have just one official fundraiser, or none at all.
What it can look like
EXAMPLE · NOT A REAL MESSAGESocial media post: "Please share! Our cousin's family lost everything in last night's house fire on Elm Street. Every dollar helps. Donate here: [link] or send directly through a payment app to @HelpTheFamilyNow. God bless."
Warning signs
- A fundraiser appears within hours of a tragedy in the news
- The organizer's connection to the family is unclear or cannot be confirmed
- Photos and wording copied from news stories or obituaries
- Requests to send money directly through payment apps instead of the platform
- More than one fundraiser for the same person or event
- The organizer's profile is new or has little history
How to protect yourself
- Give to fundraisers you can trace to people you know personally or that the family has shared directly.
- Check the family's own posts, or local news, for which fundraiser is official.
- Read the fundraiser page carefully: who is organizing, how they know the beneficiary, and how money will reach them.
- Donate through the crowdfunding platform itself, not by sending money to personal payment app handles.
- Be cautious with links shared by strangers in comments and community groups.
If you already responded
- Report the fundraiser to the crowdfunding platform using its official reporting tool, and ask about any donor protection it offers.
- If you paid by card, call the number on the back of your card about disputing the charge.
- If you used a payment app, report the payment as fraud in the app.
- Let the real family or local news know about the fake page if you can do so safely.
- Report the scam to the FTC and the FBI's IC3.
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Where to report it
Common questions
How do I know if a GoFundMe-style fundraiser is real?
Check who set it up and how they are connected to the person being helped. Look for the family to share or confirm the fundraiser on their own accounts, or for local news to mention it. Be cautious if the organizer is a stranger, the page is brand new, or there are several pages for the same event.
Do crowdfunding sites refund donations to fake campaigns?
Some platforms have their own donor protection or refund policies for campaigns found to be fraudulent. Rules differ by platform, so read its help center and report the campaign through its official reporting tool. Money sent outside the platform, such as through personal payment apps, is usually much harder to get back.
Is it safer to donate through the platform or send money directly?
Giving through the crowdfunding platform is generally safer, because it may have reporting tools and donor policies. Sending money directly to a personal payment app handle or bank account offers little protection. If an organizer asks you to send money outside the platform, treat it as a warning sign.