In the aftermath of tragedies, like the shooting at the Rochester Hills splash pad on June 15, communities rally to support those affected through volunteering or setting up charities to raise money to help those impacted by the event. Unfortunately, sometimes multiple online donation pages can crop up and make it challenging to know which is legitimate or fraudulent. Here are some measures to take to defend against such scams:

1. Verification: Natural or man-made disasters or tragedies often lead to the creation of fake charities and counterfeit crowdfunding accounts, such as GoFundMe, Kickstarter and Indiegogo, to exploit people’s desire to help. The recent tragedy reinforces the need for verification even in a crisis to ensure that contributions reach legitimate recipients. Before giving your money, it’s important to evaluate charities and confirm organizers for authenticity.  
2. Online Donation Safety Measures: Use caution when donating online by ensuring the website uses “https://” in the URL/ web address. Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails further safeguards against potential online scams.
3. Resisting Urgency Tactics: Scammers manufacture urgency to manipulate individuals to make impulsive decisions. Legitimate organizations understand the importance of careful consideration.
4. Guarding Against Emotional Manipulation: Scammers use emotional tactics, such as heart-wrenching stories or images. Maintain a level-headed approach, verifying the legitimacy of the donation profiles and avoid decisions driven solely by emotional appeals.

If you think that someone is fraudulently posing as an individual or organization to be a recipient of funds, report the fundraiser for potential fraud to GoFundMe, Kickstart or Indiegogo. Following that, report the campaign organizer to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

For additional resources on how to spot red flags of GoFundMe fraudulent accounts, click here for tips from the State of Michigan. “GoFraudMe.com” is a tool that can be used to help you identify scam accounts.

To find legitimate charities, public safety organizations and professional fundraisers, use the Attorney General’s Charitable Trust Section Database Search.

Follow the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page for more information and updates on verified donation pages for survivors of the Rochester Hills splash pad shooting or donate on the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester’s website, which is working with the City of Rochester Hills to set up a fund to help the families of those impacted.

Follow along with Oakland County on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn,  Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube using #OaklandCounty, or visit our website for more information.