Dudley Council cautions against fake GoFundMe wildfire fundraisers
Authorities are urging locals to exercise caution and not contribute to GoFundMe or other platforms claiming to support those affected by the fires.
Last updated 9 hours ago
Dudley Borough Council has issued a warning to residents about fraudulent crowdfunding campaigns claiming to raise money for victims of the Stourbridge wildfires.
Authorities are urging locals to exercise caution and not contribute to GoFundMe or other platforms claiming to support those affected by the fires.
In a daily briefing on Saturday, Dudley Council’s chief executive, Balvinder Heran, shared updates on the Stourbridge wildfires, which destroyed 19 homes earlier this week.
In a video posted on the council's website, Heran cautioned, "Unfortunately, incidents such as this can attract fundraising and donation scams, so I ask you to please remain vigilant and only donate through official channels."
For those looking to support impacted residents, the council has established its own official fundraising page.
A warning was issued in a Facebook post shared on Friday about fake fundraising campaigns, stating, "We’re aware of fake GoFundMe pages being shared online claiming to raise money for residents affected by the Stourbridge fire. Please do not donate to any GoFundMe or other fundraising pages relating to the fire at this time."
Residents are advised to be cautious when sharing or donating to online appeals and to spread the word to prevent scams.
A spokesperson for GoFundMe reassured donors, saying, "Our Trust & Safety team works around the clock to make sure people can give and receive help safely, which is why we’ve launched a dedicated page of verified fundraisers for those affected by the UK wildfires. We’re also proud to be working with the Heart of England Community Foundation on their appeal."
GoFundMe has offered advice on recognising legitimate fundraising pages, such as checking web addresses, donating through platforms offering donor guarantees, and considering the source of the fundraiser.
Dudley Council is planning another briefing for residents at 2pm today.