$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
school fundraiser fraud scam
Scammers create fake school fundraising campaigns online or go door to door impersonating students or parents, collecting donations that never reach any school or student organization.
“grandparent scam”
↑ 85%Key indicators
Usually targetsParents
Often hitsNonprofit and charity workers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$640
median reported loss
Typical range$40 – $4.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers create GoFundMe pages or social media campaigns claiming to raise money for school sports teams, field trips, or classroom supplies, using real school names and logos.
2
They share the campaigns in community groups and parent networks, and may also send children door to door selling overpriced items for fake fundraisers.
3
All collected funds go to the scammer, and the school has no knowledge of the supposed fundraiser.
What to do first
Verify any fundraiser by contacting the school's front office or PTA directly before donating.
Related terms
fake school fundraiserPTA fundraising scamschool donation fraudParent and family scamsSocial mediaRisingParentsFamiliesCommunity membersNonprofit and charity workersParents and familiesUnited StatesCanadafake school fundraiserPTA fundraising scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Jessica, 38, a parents, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate parent and family scams situation while using Social media. Scammers create GoFundMe pages or social media campaigns claiming to raise money for school sports teams, field trips, or classroom supplies, using real school names and logos.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They share the campaigns in community groups and parent networks, and may also send children door to door selling overpriced items for fake fundraisers.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: All collected funds go to the scammer, and the school has no knowledge of the supposed fundraiser.
The outcome
Jessica realized something was wrong when fundraiser is shared through social media or door-to-door solicitation but is not listed on the school's official website. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Verify any fundraiser by contacting the school's front office or PTA directly before donating. Jessica's experience shows why fundraiser is shared through social media or door-to-door solicitation but is not listed on the school's official website and organizer cannot provide a school contact or pta reference to verify the fundraiser are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Fundraiser is shared through social media or door-to-door solicitation but is not listed on the school's official website
- Organizer cannot provide a school contact or PTA reference to verify the fundraiser
- Donations are collected through personal Venmo or Cash App accounts rather than official school channels
- 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
- ✓Verify any fundraiser by contacting the school's front office or PTA directly before donating.
- ✓Donate only through official school-affiliated channels or verified fundraising platforms linked from the school's website.
- ✓Report fake fundraisers to the crowdfunding platform, local police, and the school administration.
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 thousands of fraudulent fundraising campaigns in 2023, with education and school-related fraud among the most common categories.
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.
- ✓Verify any fundraiser by contacting the school's front office or PTA directly before donating.
- ✓Donate only through official school-affiliated channels or verified fundraising platforms linked from the school's website.
- ✓Report fake fundraisers to the crowdfunding platform, local police, and the school administration.
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 thousands of fraudulent fundraising campaigns in 2023, with education and school-related fraud among the most common categories.
GoFundMe Trust and Safety 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
Parents, Families, Community members
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada
Primary channel
Social media — Parent and family scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Parents are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of 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 thousands of fraudulent fundraising campaigns in 2023, with education and school-related fraud among the most common categories.
Source notes
- GoFundMe Trust and Safety Report 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about school fundraiser fraud scam
How does the school fundraiser fraud scam work?+
Scammers create GoFundMe pages or social media campaigns claiming to raise money for school sports teams, field trips, or classroom supplies, using real school names and logos. They share the campaigns in community groups and parent networks, and may also send children door to door selling overpriced items for fake fundraisers. All collected funds go to the scammer, and the school has no knowledge of the supposed fundraiser.
What are the warning signs of school fundraiser fraud scam?+
Fundraiser is shared through social media or door-to-door solicitation but is not listed on the school's official website Organizer cannot provide a school contact or PTA reference to verify the fundraiser Donations are collected through personal Venmo or Cash App accounts rather than official school channels
What should I do if I encounter school fundraiser fraud scam?+
Verify any fundraiser by contacting the school's front office or PTA directly before donating. Donate only through official school-affiliated channels or verified fundraising platforms linked from the school's website. Report fake fundraisers to the crowdfunding platform, local police, and the school administration.
Who is most at risk for school fundraiser fraud scam?+
This scam primarily targets Parents, Families, Community members. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada and typically appears on Social media.
Is school fundraiser fraud scam on the rise?+
school fundraiser fraud scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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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.
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