How GoFundMe Protects Donors From Fraudulent Fundraisers

GoFundMe is dedicated to empowering people to help people. An overwhelming majority of fundraisers on the site are safe and legitimate, as fraudulent fundraisers make up less than one-tenth of 1% of all fundraisers on GoFundMe.

In the rare instance that someone does create a misleading fundraiser with the intention of taking advantage of others’ generosity, GoFundMe takes swift action to resolve the issue.

Examples of expressly forbidden fraudulent activity

Breaking the law
Lying or being misleading about your identity as an organizer or your relationship to the ultimate recipient of the funds
Posting misleading statements in the fundraiser story

We rely on the GoFundMe community to let us know if there is suspicion that an organizer is involved in any of the examples of fraud above. To report a fundraiser for potential fraud, please contact us.

Examples that are not considered to be fraudulent activity

Sometimes, there are situations that may raise questions but are not considered examples of fraudulent activity on our platform. These include:

Speculation of fraud or rumors that the fundraiser is a scam
Images or names of individuals being used without permission of the family
Disagreement around the nature of the fundraiser or the character of the organizer
Fundraisers that have surpassed their goal but are still raising funds
Custody or familial disputes or disagreements
Multiple fundraisers set up for one purpose or for the same beneficiary

GoFundMe cooperates with the law enforcement and provides them with any information needed in an investigation. If you are a law enforcement officer looking to contact our team, you can reach us here.