An unspoken rule of the internet is to be very careful of who you give money to. Whether it’s a scam caller or a misleading advertisement, everyone should always be on their guard when it comes to giving credit card information, E-Transfers, and the like.
But we never want to think about that when it comes to fundraisers. Especially those that are meant to go to a very good cause.
Unfortunately, there are opportunistic people no matter where and when.
VERIFYING VALIDITY
The tragedy that happened at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival is one that has affected many, many Metro Vancouver residents. In support of this event, people have been donating to verified GoFundMe pages to make sure that the victims get the proper support they deserve.
There is a page filled with verified fundraisers that you can access here, but there was one that wasn’t on that list. Still, it’s human nature to think the best of people, even if it’s on the internet. You would never imagine a person taking advantage of such a horrific tragedy just to make a few bucks.
After some social media digging and answers from other Filipino residents, it turned out that the photo being used on the GoFundMe page was fraudulent. It was someone else entirely. Someone commented on Narraway’s post that they knew the person in the picture, and that they [the person] were not part of the Lapu Lapu Day Festival.
THE AFTERMATH
The person in the GoFundMe scam’s image was actually living in Las Vegas and was having her images used fraudulently. The GoFundMe page has since been removed, and refunds have been issued to all that donated to the fraudulent fundraiser. The organizer was also banned from the platform.
This GoFundMe scam may have ended in justice, but that doesn’t mean nobody else will attempt something similar. Be vigilant and be sure that the fundraiser you’re donating to is verified. And if you’re not sure, ask around your community.
If you’d like a surefire way to get your support directly to those affected, why not donate blood? As long as you’re eligible, your donation will be going to a fantastic cause. It’ll be assisting those that are still in critical and serious condition. And, as always, you can donate to the verified GoFundMe pages if that’s more your style.
