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Go fund me theft reports

884 views 9 replies 9 participants last post by  okiegtrider 
#1 ·
I have noticed two reports recently here regarding the theft using go fund me accounts. Curious how your dept. handles a case like this?

Example, friend A is trying to help raise money for friend B for funeral expenses, a vacation whatever. Go fund me from my understanding is set up for a particular person to withdraw it (friend A). If friend A is the designated withdrawer but never gives the money to friend B then what ground does Friend B have to make a theft report? The victim is going to be the individuals who donated so now you have out of state donors with donations that are minimal in amount. Laws vary but just curious if anyone had dealt with it. We are looking at it as civil.
 
#3 ·
That's the issue as far as the theft. Each person would file their own charges (misdemeanor) and most aren't going to travel from out of state to fool with it. Assuming it's a small donation which is what we have dealt with so far. DA is not going to take the total amount as a whole which would make it a felony. Plus, it would be those donors who would file the complaint as opposed to the designee who wants them charged for the 2-3k they missed out on.
 
#6 ·
Here in NC we could charge Friend A with a felony for "Obtaining property by false pretense" and use the aggregate amount and list everyone as a victim. I dont remeber if it is a separate count for each donation or one count.

However, you can designate anyone to be the withdrawer. We set up a gofundme for a family member due to a medical issue. We designated them as the withdrawer and they set it up with gofundme. We did not ever touch the money, only the person who it was set up for. But that is why I am careful with who I donate to. And if I know them I just give it to them directly so GFM wont take a percentage.
 
#8 ·
In my jurisdiction I can just about guarantee that unless the suspect admitted that from the get go it was a scam to make him and only him money under false pretenses it would never see a criminal complaint filed.

As long as he stuck to his guns that it was a poorly managed use of donations it would be viewed as a civil matter.
 
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