$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
school supply fundraiser scam
Scammers posing as school officials or parent-teacher organizations solicit donations for school supply drives that do not exist, pocketing the money intended for students.
“back to school scam”
↑ 202%Key indicators
Usually targetsParents
Often hitsEducators and students
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 social media posts or GoFundMe pages claiming to collect money for school supplies for underprivileged students, often using stolen photos of classrooms or children.
2
Concerned parents and community members donate through the platform, believing the funds will reach a real school.
3
The scammer withdraws the funds and disappears, with none of the money reaching any students or school.
What to do first
Verify fundraisers directly with the school administration before donating.
Related terms
fake PTA fundraiserschool supply donation scamBack-to-school scamsSocial mediaRisingParentsCommunity membersTeachersEducators and studentsNonprofit and charity workersParents and familiesUnited StatesCanadafake PTA fundraiserschool supply donation scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Paul, 38, a parents, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate back-to-school scams situation while using Social media. Scammers create social media posts or GoFundMe pages claiming to collect money for school supplies for underprivileged students, often using stolen photos of classrooms or children.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Concerned parents and community members donate through the platform, believing the funds will reach a real school.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The scammer withdraws the funds and disappears, with none of the money reaching any students or school.
The outcome
Paul realized something was wrong when fundraiser is not listed on the school's official website or newsletter. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Verify fundraisers directly with the school administration before donating. Paul's experience shows why fundraiser is not listed on the school's official website or newsletter and organizer cannot provide a school contact or official pta/pto affiliation are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Fundraiser is not listed on the school's official website or newsletter
- Organizer cannot provide a school contact or official PTA/PTO affiliation
- Donations are directed to personal Venmo, Cash App, or GoFundMe accounts rather than the school
- 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 fundraisers directly with the school administration before donating.
- ✓Donate school supplies directly to the school or through the official PTA/PTO channels.
- ✓Report fraudulent fundraisers to the platform hosting them and your state attorney general.
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 3,000 fraudulent school-related fundraisers in 2024, with a spike in fraudulent campaigns in July and August before the school year.
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 fundraisers directly with the school administration before donating.
- ✓Donate school supplies directly to the school or through the official PTA/PTO channels.
- ✓Report fraudulent fundraisers to the platform hosting them and your state attorney general.
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 3,000 fraudulent school-related fundraisers in 2024, with a spike in fraudulent campaigns in July and August before the school year.
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
Parents, Community members, Teachers
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada
Primary channel
Social media — Back-to-school 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 over 3,000 fraudulent school-related fundraisers in 2024, with a spike in fraudulent campaigns in July and August before the school year.
Source notes
- GoFundMe Transparency Report 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about school supply fundraiser scam
How does the school supply fundraiser scam work?+
Scammers create social media posts or GoFundMe pages claiming to collect money for school supplies for underprivileged students, often using stolen photos of classrooms or children. Concerned parents and community members donate through the platform, believing the funds will reach a real school. The scammer withdraws the funds and disappears, with none of the money reaching any students or school.
What are the warning signs of school supply fundraiser scam?+
Fundraiser is not listed on the school's official website or newsletter Organizer cannot provide a school contact or official PTA/PTO affiliation Donations are directed to personal Venmo, Cash App, or GoFundMe accounts rather than the school
What should I do if I encounter school supply fundraiser scam?+
Verify fundraisers directly with the school administration before donating. Donate school supplies directly to the school or through the official PTA/PTO channels. Report fraudulent fundraisers to the platform hosting them and your state attorney general.
Who is most at risk for school supply fundraiser scam?+
This scam primarily targets Parents, Community members, Teachers. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada and typically appears on Social media.
Is school supply fundraiser scam on the rise?+
school supply fundraiser 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.
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