$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
disaster GoFundMe fraud scam
Scammers create fraudulent crowdfunding campaigns after natural disasters using stolen photos and fabricated stories, pocketing donations meant for disaster victims.
“disaster scam”
↑ 500%Key indicators
Usually targetsDonors
Often hitsNonprofit and charity workers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers monitor breaking disaster news and immediately create GoFundMe or similar crowdfunding campaigns using stolen photos and heart-wrenching stories.
2
The campaigns are shared widely on social media, capitalizing on the emotional response to the disaster to generate rapid donations.
3
Funds are withdrawn before the platform can verify the campaign, and the scammer disappears with thousands of dollars.
What to do first
Donate to established disaster relief organizations rather than individual crowdfunding campaigns unless you personally know the recipient.
Related terms
fake disaster crowdfundingfraudulent disaster fundraiserNatural disaster scamsSocial mediaSurgingDonorsSocial media usersCommunity membersNonprofit and charity workersUnited StatesCanadaAustraliafake disaster crowdfundingfraudulent disaster fundraiser
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Brian, 35, a donors, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate natural disaster scams situation while using Social media. Scammers monitor breaking disaster news and immediately create GoFundMe or similar crowdfunding campaigns using stolen photos and heart-wrenching stories.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The campaigns are shared widely on social media, capitalizing on the emotional response to the disaster to generate rapid donations.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Funds are withdrawn before the platform can verify the campaign, and the scammer disappears with thousands of dollars.
The outcome
Brian realized something was wrong when campaign was created within hours of the disaster with little verifiable detail about the recipient. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Donate to established disaster relief organizations rather than individual crowdfunding campaigns unless you personally know the recipient. Brian's experience shows why campaign was created within hours of the disaster with little verifiable detail about the recipient and photos appear to be stock images or stolen from news coverage are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Campaign was created within hours of the disaster with little verifiable detail about the recipient
- Photos appear to be stock images or stolen from news coverage
- Campaign organizer has no verifiable connection to the disaster area or victims
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Donate to established disaster relief organizations rather than individual crowdfunding campaigns unless you personally know the recipient.
- ✓Verify crowdfunding campaigns by checking if the organizer has a verifiable identity and connection to the disaster.
- ✓Report suspicious campaigns to the crowdfunding platform and the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- GoFundMe reported removing over 2,000 fraudulent disaster-related campaigns in 2024 and returned more than 1.5 million dollars to donors through its guarantee program.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Donate to established disaster relief organizations rather than individual crowdfunding campaigns unless you personally know the recipient.
- ✓Verify crowdfunding campaigns by checking if the organizer has a verifiable identity and connection to the disaster.
- ✓Report suspicious campaigns to the crowdfunding platform and the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
GoFundMe reported removing over 2,000 fraudulent disaster-related campaigns in 2024 and returned more than 1.5 million dollars to donors through its guarantee program.
GoFundMe Transparency Report 2024
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Donors, Social media users, Community members
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada, Australia
Primary channel
Social media — Natural disaster scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Donors are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- GoFundMe reported removing over 2,000 fraudulent disaster-related campaigns in 2024 and returned more than 1.5 million dollars to donors through its guarantee program.
Source notes
- GoFundMe Transparency Report 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about disaster gofundme fraud scam
How does the disaster gofundme fraud scam work?+
Scammers monitor breaking disaster news and immediately create GoFundMe or similar crowdfunding campaigns using stolen photos and heart-wrenching stories. The campaigns are shared widely on social media, capitalizing on the emotional response to the disaster to generate rapid donations. Funds are withdrawn before the platform can verify the campaign, and the scammer disappears with thousands of dollars.
What are the warning signs of disaster gofundme fraud scam?+
Campaign was created within hours of the disaster with little verifiable detail about the recipient Photos appear to be stock images or stolen from news coverage Campaign organizer has no verifiable connection to the disaster area or victims
What should I do if I encounter disaster gofundme fraud scam?+
Donate to established disaster relief organizations rather than individual crowdfunding campaigns unless you personally know the recipient. Verify crowdfunding campaigns by checking if the organizer has a verifiable identity and connection to the disaster. Report suspicious campaigns to the crowdfunding platform and the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov.
Who is most at risk for disaster gofundme fraud scam?+
This scam primarily targets Donors, Social media users, Community members. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, Australia and typically appears on Social media.
Is disaster gofundme fraud scam getting worse?+
disaster GoFundMe fraud scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, CA, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
Related scams
Similar scams to watch out for
Online shopping scams
↑ 166%dropshipping extreme markup scam
Stores resell cheap items from wholesale marketplaces at extreme markups, often 5-10x the original price, while advertising them as exclusive or premium products.
What to do first
Use reverse image search on product photos before purchasing from unfamiliar stores
Targets
Online shoppers
Seen in
U.S.
Online shopping scams
↑ 166%social media shop scam on Instagram
Scam accounts on Instagram promote products through polished posts and stories, collect payment via direct messages or external links, and never deliver.
What to do first
Only purchase through platforms with buyer protection such as official marketplace checkout
Targets
Social media users
Seen in
Global
Online shopping scams
↑ 166%TikTok shop too-good-to-be-true pricing scam
Products advertised on TikTok at unbelievably low prices turn out to be scams, with sellers collecting payment and shipping nothing or sending worthless items.
What to do first
Research the seller and product independently before purchasing from social media ads
Targets
Young adults
Seen in
U.S.
Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.