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March 4th, 2025
You see a heart-wrenching story online, a struggling family facing medical bills, a community rebuilding after a disaster, or a child needing life-saving treatment. The fundraiser tugs at your heart, and without a second thought, you donate.
But what if the story was just a GoFundMe Scam?
Helping others is one of the best things about being human. GoFundMe has brought people together to support important causes, proving that kindness still exists.
But scammers just can’t let us have nice things. Instead, they’ve turned the platform into an easy way to trick generous people.
Fake GoFundMe campaigns are harder to spot than ever. Let’s break down the red flags, the latest scams, and how to confidently donate.
What is GoFundMe and How Does It Work?
GoFundMe is a popular online fundraising platform where people can raise money for personal needs, medical bills, emergencies, and charities. Since it started in 2010, it has helped millions by connecting those in need with generous donors.
Anyone can create a fundraiser by creating a campaign, sharing their story, and adding photos or videos. Once the campaign is live, people can donate online using a credit card, PayPal, or Apple Pay.
When enough money is raised, the organizer can withdraw or send the funds directly to the needy.
GoFundMe does not charge a fee to start a fundraiser, but it takes a small percentage (2.9% + $0.30 per donation) for payment processing. To keep donations safe, the platform offers a donor protection guarantee, meaning donors may be able to get a refund if a fundraiser turns out to be fake.
Common GoFundMe Scams to Watch Out For
Scammers are always coming up with new ways to trick people into donating to fake fundraisers.
Here are some of the most common scams in 2025, along with real cases showing how sneaky these fraudsters can be.
Fake Medical Emergencies
Some people pretend they need urgent medical treatment, claiming they are battling a serious illness or need life-saving surgery. But when you look closer, no medical records, updates, or proof exists.
A recent case involved a couple in Australia who falsely claimed their 6-year-old son had cancer, raising around AUD 60,000 on GoFundMe before being charged with deception.
Stolen Tragedies
Scammers take real tragedies from the news and create fake fundraisers to steal donations. They use stolen photos and false stories to make their campaigns look real.
In September 2023, after the tragic death of 1-year-old Nicholas Dominici at a Bronx daycare, a fake GoFundMe page appeared, claiming to raise money for his grieving family.
Local Council Member Pierina Sanchez warned the community about the scam and urged people to only donate to fundraisers that the family or trusted organizations officially approved.
Disaster Relief Fraud
Natural disasters bring out kind-hearted donors, but they also attract scammers. Whenever a big disaster happens, fake fundraisers start appearing.
After the Palisades Fire in California, a scammer stole video footage of a victim’s burning home and used it to create a fake GoFundMe campaign. People donated, thinking they were helping, but the money never reached the real victims.
Pet Rescue Scams
Scammers often trick animal lovers by posting sad pictures of injured or abandoned pets, claiming they need urgent medical care.
In reality, some of these animals don’t even exist. In 2024, Susan Rubin was accused of running a fake GoFundMe campaign by using photos of a dog she didn’t own.
She claimed the dog needed medical treatment and raised money from kind-hearted donors. By the time people realized the fundraiser was fake, she had already collected the money under false pretenses.
Memorial Fund Scams
Some people will go to shocking lengths to steal money, even using someone’s death as a cover. In some cases, the deceased never existed at all.
Other times, a victim’s real family has no idea a fundraiser is being run in their name. One such scam involved a fake GoFundMe page set up for a murder victim, where the scammer pretended to be a grieving relative to collect donations.
How to Protect Your Donations?
Your generosity can make a life-changing difference if it reaches the right people.
Unfortunately, scammers prey on our willingness to help. Below are steps to make sure your contributions go where they’re meant to:
Verify the Organizer’s Identity
Before you donate, it’s smart to make sure the person running the fundraiser is really who they say they are. One way to do this is by using a Reverse Lookup from Social Catfish.
It can show if any of the organizer’s photos, social media profiles, or contact details have been linked to scams before. If you notice anything strange, like a location that doesn’t match or conflicting information, give your donation a second thought.
Be Careful of Seasonal Scams
Scammers take advantage of holidays when people are more generous. They create fake fundraisers that seem heartfelt but are designed to trick you.
Watch out for common traps like Christmas charity fraud and holiday shopping scams. Before donating, make sure the campaign clearly explains how the money will be used.
Safe Online Payments
Your financial information is precious, and online transactions can leave you vulnerable if you’re not careful.
Protect yourself from fraud by using reputable payment methods and enabling two-factor authentication whenever possible. Never share your credit card or banking details through unsecured channels like emails, direct messages, or text messages.
Watch Out for Fake Bank Websites
Phishing emails and malicious sites sometimes pose as well-known banks to grab your login details. These scams often arrive as urgent messages warning of account issues, leading you to a site that looks real but isn’t.
Understanding how phishing emails and malware work can help you quickly spot these traps. If an email or text raises any suspicion, it’s safer to type your bank’s URL directly into your browser instead of clicking a link.
If you’re feeling generous and want to support a local cause or individual but don’t have a direct connection, take advantage of the internet.
Beyond a simple Google search, you can use a service like Social Catfish’s Search Specialist to verify the details someone shares online. This extra step helps make sure the information lines up, protecting your donation from going to the wrong place.
Here’s what users say about their experience with Social Catfish:
“I love what this company does, they helped so many people find the truth about the scammers that took money from them along with ruining their lives. Social Catfish has improved so many lives while bringing great content to so many of us. I just talked on the phone to Erin about the gift they sent me while on a stream and she was very professional and sweet, she made my day, which I publicly thank her for. Keep it up!” – Dragos
