A copied appeal

Training 1175 minutesverify a fundraiser

“Three hours left.” A medical appeal appears in your feed and you want to send $40. The card has a photo and a target, but no organization.

Training goal: Help after checking where the money goes

Situation

1. A contact forwards the post. Hundreds of hearts sit below it, and the link opens a transfer form.

2. An image search finds last year’s appeal with a different target and recipient. That alone does not prove a new appeal is false.

3. The original organizer says there is no new appeal. You still want to set aside $40 to help.

4. The post is still visible. How do you finish without spreading private medical documents?

Before your next donation, locate the original appeal and verify the recipient independently.

How do I verify a social media fundraiser?

Find the original organizer, updates and payment destination. Pause if details conflict until you can check independently.

Does a personal recipient name mean fraud?

No, personal fundraisers can be genuine. You still need to verify how the recipient connects to the appeal.

What should I do with a false appeal?

Save the link, report it to the platform and alert contacts who share such appeals. Avoid exposing private details.

Numbers are illustrative. A game, not financial advice.