Unfortunately, there are bad people out there that take a bad situation and try to make money from it. It is truly heartbreaking but real. It happens all the time. Even after a recent tragic event in our neighbouring city, Vancouver, there we people on GoFundMe setting up fake accounts. One such account managed to raise over $57,000 before being taken down by GoFundMe.
This happens all the time after a natural disaster, a terrorist attacks, or a tragic incident like the one recently in Vancouver, or the recent 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar. They also happen around religious holidays, economic downturns, pandemics, and times of uncertainty and vulnerability.
If You Want To Help…
If you do want to donate to help in any situation, first verify who you are giving the money to. There are several world wide foundations that help in most cases like the Red Cross or The Salvation Army. Other great site is Canada Helps and Canada Gives. Make sure that the site you are giving money to is the right address, the links for Red Cross and Salvation Army are above, as are the links for Canada Helps and Canada Gives. They should have all the coverage you need to assist in any situation.
How To Do Your Research
If there is a particular cause that you want to give to directly but are unsure, and the above sites don’t work with them. You can check on the CRA’s site for registered charity here. You can also check their legitimacy by making a Request for Registered Charity Information via the Canada Revenue Agency‘s website where they will provide the following information:
- Charity governing documents, including statement of purpose
- A copy of the public portions of the charity’s registration application
- Names of charity directors / trustees
- Any letters sent by the CRA to the charity for reasons of revocation or annulment, suspension or assessment of tax or penalty
- Public information from the charity’s annual information returns and financial statements
Be Extremely Cautious With Crowdsourced Fundraising Sites
It is very important to ensure that your heartfelt money is going to the right cause and not to a scammers pocket who is taking advantage of the situation. While GoFundMe is great for a lot of fundraising, it can be difficult to tell the legitimacy behind the campaign, and unfortunately, there are a few bad apples that spoil the bunch.
If you want to give to a GoFundMe or similar charity, make sure you have done the following due diligence first
- Confirm the story and names involved
- Check all the details
- Check for sources other than the GoFundMe listing to verify the story and the cause
- Double-check who is sharing the information, are they new social media accounts, can you find other information about them. Check the social media pages history, are there lots of activity, that leads you to believe this is a real account
Protect Yourself By Using A Known, Trusted Charity
Remember to do your homework anytime money is involved. Remember the 4 P’s and protect you and your money. Never give any bank details to anybody. If there is any red flags or it smells ‘phishy’ in any way, walk away. If you still want to help, use one of the sites listed above to find a legitimate, trusted charity.