$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
GoFundMe and crowdfunding fraud
Scammers create fraudulent crowdfunding campaigns with fabricated stories of personal hardship, medical emergencies, or causes to collect donations under false pretenses.
“charity scam”
↑ 142%Key indicators
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers create compelling crowdfunding campaigns using fabricated or exaggerated stories
2
They share the campaigns aggressively on social media to generate sympathy and donations
3
Funds are withdrawn before the platform can verify the story, and the scammer disappears
What to do first
Research the campaign organizer and verify their connection to the stated cause before donating
Related terms
fake GoFundMe scamcrowdfunding fraudfake personal fundraiserCharity scamsWebsiteSurgingDonorsSocial media usersYoung adultsTech workers and developersHealthcare workersEducators and studentsGlobalfake GoFundMe scamcrowdfunding fraud
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Sofia, 35, a donors, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate charity scams situation while using Website. Scammers create compelling crowdfunding campaigns using fabricated or exaggerated stories
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They share the campaigns aggressively on social media to generate sympathy and donations
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Funds are withdrawn before the platform can verify the story, and the scammer disappears
The outcome
Sofia realized something was wrong when campaign story contains inconsistencies or cannot be verified through independent sources. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Research the campaign organizer and verify their connection to the stated cause before donating Sofia's experience shows why campaign story contains inconsistencies or cannot be verified through independent sources and organizer has no connection to the beneficiary or has created multiple unrelated campaigns are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Campaign story contains inconsistencies or cannot be verified through independent sources
- Organizer has no connection to the beneficiary or has created multiple unrelated campaigns
- Campaign uses stolen photos or stock images rather than genuine pictures of the beneficiary
- 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
- ✓Research the campaign organizer and verify their connection to the stated cause before donating
- ✓Check if the story has been reported in local news or verified by the platform
- ✓Report suspicious campaigns directly to the crowdfunding platform's trust and safety team
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 reports that their trust and safety team reviews campaigns and has a guarantee program, but fraudulent campaigns still slip through and are removed after being reported
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.
- ✓Research the campaign organizer and verify their connection to the stated cause before donating
- ✓Check if the story has been reported in local news or verified by the platform
- ✓Report suspicious campaigns directly to the crowdfunding platform's trust and safety team
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 reports that their trust and safety team reviews campaigns and has a guarantee program, but fraudulent campaigns still slip through and are removed after being reported
OpenScam research
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. Global has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
Report cross-border scams
econsumer.gov (ICPEN)
International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network portal for reporting cross-border online scams. Reports are shared with consumer protection agencies in 40+ countries.
Interpol financial crime guidance
Interpol
International policing guidance on online financial fraud, romance scams, and investment fraud operating across borders.
Report phishing emails
Anti-Phishing Working Group
Global industry coalition for reporting phishing emails and URLs. Forward phishing to [email protected].
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Donors, Social media users, Young adults
Geographic concentration
Global
Primary channel
Website — Charity 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 reports that their trust and safety team reviews campaigns and has a guarantee program, but fraudulent campaigns still slip through and are removed after being reported
Source notes
- OpenScam research
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about gofundme and crowdfunding fraud
How does the gofundme and crowdfunding fraud work?+
Scammers create compelling crowdfunding campaigns using fabricated or exaggerated stories They share the campaigns aggressively on social media to generate sympathy and donations Funds are withdrawn before the platform can verify the story, and the scammer disappears
What are the warning signs of gofundme and crowdfunding fraud?+
Campaign story contains inconsistencies or cannot be verified through independent sources Organizer has no connection to the beneficiary or has created multiple unrelated campaigns Campaign uses stolen photos or stock images rather than genuine pictures of the beneficiary
What should I do if I encounter gofundme and crowdfunding fraud?+
Research the campaign organizer and verify their connection to the stated cause before donating Check if the story has been reported in local news or verified by the platform Report suspicious campaigns directly to the crowdfunding platform's trust and safety team
Who is most at risk for gofundme and crowdfunding fraud?+
This scam primarily targets Donors, Social media users, Young adults. It is most commonly reported in Global and typically appears on Website.
Is gofundme and crowdfunding fraud getting worse?+
GoFundMe and crowdfunding fraud is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, UK, CA, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
Related scams
Similar scams to watch out for
Romance scams
↑ 41%Long-distance model romance scam
A glamorous long-distance profile quickly becomes emotionally intense and asks for travel or document money to finally meet.
What to do first
Verify with a live video call and outside social proof before believing the story.
Targets
Young adults
Seen in
Global
Romance scams
↑ 41%Sugar dating verification fee scam
A match promises an allowance but first requests verification payments, subscription fees, or gift cards to activate the arrangement.
What to do first
Treat any payment-before-payment arrangement as fraud.
Targets
Students
Seen in
Global
Investment scams
↑ 30%Managed forex account scam
A forex mentor offers to manage your money directly, showing screenshots of wins while dodging audited history or regulatory details.
What to do first
Avoid handing capital to unlicensed mentors from social media.
Targets
New traders
Seen in
Global
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.