GoFundMe scam: is that fundraiser or message real?
Editorially reviewed · Last updated September 8, 2026
Yes — this is a scam. A message that asks you to pay a fee, accept an individual donation, or share banking details is a GoFundMe scam pattern.
Exhibit · Email
Other versions you might get: A fake donor offers a large contribution, someone offers to run or withdraw fundraiser money for a service fee, or a message impersonates a beneficiary, donor, organization, or GoFundMe employee. A spoofed sign-in page can use the same story to collect your login or payment details.
What to do right now
- Do not pay or share details with an unverified sender. Save the message and fundraiser URL. A genuine organizer may need bank and identity details in GoFundMe’s official transfer setup, not through a stranger’s donation offer.
- Open GoFundMe yourself. Type gofundme.com or use the app and check the fundraiser or account without using the message's link.
- Report the fundraiser or message. Use GoFundMe's report form and send suspicious messages to accountsecurity@gofundme.com.
- If you clicked or entered information, secure the account. Change your GoFundMe and email passwords, turn on multi-factor authentication, and monitor your bank and account alerts.
- If money moved, act quickly. Contact the bank, card issuer, or payment company and ask whether the payment can be reversed, then report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Reduce the risk of another scam
A fake donor or refund contact may return after the first message. Keep using GoFundMe's official site and reporting route, and do not pay anyone who promises to recover a donation for an upfront fee.
● Public service · free steps first
Take the free protection steps first
A suspicious message does not tell us how someone found your details. If you shared personal information, start with the official recovery guidance. You can also freeze your credit for free.
- Freeze your credit — free at all three bureausRestricts access to your credit report for new credit applications. It does not protect existing accounts from misuse.
- Report it and get a recovery plan at IdentityTheft.govThe FTC walks you through exactly what to do next, for free.
Decide what protection you need
Start with the free controls above. Compare what a paid service would add only after deciding which problem remains.
No purchase needed. How we use evidence.
Frequently asked
Does GoFundMe ask you to pay a fee to receive donations?
How can I tell if a GoFundMe email is real?
Someone says they will make a large donation if I share bank details. Is that real?
I clicked a GoFundMe link and entered information. What now?
How do I report a fake GoFundMe fundraiser?
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Phishing email examples: 7 illustrations, annotated
Seven illustrated phishing emails impersonating familiar organizations, with annotated warning signs, independent checks, and steps after exposure.
Sources
- 01Report a fundraiser— GoFundMe
- 02Recognizing online fraud schemes and suspicious emails— GoFundMe
- 03Giving to charity— Federal Trade Commission
- 04What To Do if You Were Scammed— Federal Trade Commission
- 05Official security and fraud guidance— support.gofundme.com
Pass it on
Help protect someone else
If this could have fooled you, it can fool someone you know — a parent, a friend, the family group chat. It's safe to forward, and stands on its own as a record for a bank or the police.