SUPPORT ARTICLES

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Recognizing online fraud schemes and suspicious emails

Sharing your HopeFundMe fundraiser and properly engaging with your donor network is an important part of fundraising, and we want to help you achieve your goals in both a safe and effective way.

 

Here are some tips to help you recognize and report common online scams so you can protect yourself and the funds you raise.

 

  • How can I avoid fraud schemes?
  • What if I find something suspicious?
  • Types of online fraud schemes
  • Additional concerns

 

How can I avoid fraud schemes?

 

  • Only sign in to HopeFundMe accounts via HopeFundMe’s official website: www.HopeFundMe.org. Customers should always look for the gray lock showing the site is securely encrypted.
  • Take extra precaution when reviewing emails and texts you’ve received. HopeFundMe will never ask you to accept an individual donation. If the messages or links look suspicious, avoid opening them.  For examples of scams we’ve seen, visit the ‘Types of Online Fraud’ section below.
  • If you’re unsure if an email from HopeFundMe is real, send it to our team using
    [email protected] or click “Contact Us”.
  • As with all public online activity, sharing personal information such as your address, phone number, personal email address, or other forms of receiving payment (Digital wallet links, personal bank account information, etc), directly in your fundraiser or with potential donors you don’t know can put you at increased risk. Avoid sharing this type of information, and report any suspicious contact attempts to our team using [email protected]
  • If you’re adding a beneficiary, it’s important to confirm your beneficiary’s email address with them personally. If you don’t personally know your beneficiary, please contact our team.

 

For additional tips on how to keep your account secure, or if you believe your account has been compromised, please visit our Help Center article titled “Account security”.

 

What if I find something suspicious?

 

If you’ve received any suspicious messages regarding your HopeFundMe fundraiser, please do not respond; instead, forward it to [email protected]. If you’ve received a suspicious text message, you can email a screenshot of the text message to [email protected]. We’re always here to help.

 

What should I do if I clicked a suspicious link or provided personal information?

 

  • Immediately contact our team to report concerns about your account activity. Be sure to share any suspicious messages you’ve received.
  • Change your password on your HopeFundMe account and with your Email service provider.
  • Check in with your other online accounts and set up Multi-Factor Authentication.
  • Closely monitor your banking activity and transactions for suspicious activity.
  • Set up free account alerts with your financial institution(s).

 

Types of online fraud schemes

Offers related to your HopeFundMe fundraiser

 

If someone you don’t know is reaching out to offer something that sounds too good to be true, we always recommend validating the individual before sharing any personal information. Donors and donor networks shouldn’t expect anything from you in return for their generosity. Some examples include offers to:

 

  • Run your fundraiser (especially for payment)
  • Withdraw donations on your behalf
  • Guarantee reaching your fundraising goal in exchange for a service fee or percentage of funds raised
  • Initiate a large donation to your fundraiser if you pay a service fee or percentage of funds raised
  • Share your fundraiser with a large social following for a service fee or percentage of funds raised
  • Make a donation if you provide personal information such as email address, phone number, or banking information

 

If you receive suspicious messages or offers, please email [email protected] for further review or verification.

Phishing

 

Phishing is an attempt to get personal information (such as a username, password, or financial information) by pretending to be a website or person.

Phishing behavior as it relates to your HopeFundMe account usually takes the form of:

 

  • Bad actors sending an email or text message asking you to take action with a phishing link embedded in the message;
  • Redirecting users to a spoofed HopeFundMe website that will not show up as “HopeFundMe.com;
  • Bad actors contacting organizers and posing as a legitimate beneficiary, donor, organization, or even as a HopeFundMe employee

 

As a reminder, all communication from HopeFundMe will be from a HopeFundMe.com email address.

 

While HopeFundMe has tools and processes in place to help protect you from this kind of activity, we also encourage you to share relevant information with us as soon as it takes place. The sooner we’re made aware of a situation, the sooner we can help mitigate potential risks.

 

We encourage customers to use caution when reading or responding to emails through HopeFundMe’s contact system. If you receive a suspicious email, please forward the email to [email protected].

 

Sweetheart/romance scams and catfishing

 

A sweetheart or romance scam involves building trust by pretending to be romantically interested in someone and then using that trust to commit fraud. Some fraudulent activity can include stealing a victim’s money, bank and credit card information, or even their identity.

 

Often used with romance scams, catfishing is when an individual uses a fake identity in order to trick a victim.

 

When talking online to someone you don’t personally know, do your best to verify their identity and never share personal details or send money to someone without having 100% confidence in their identity or story.

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