Dudley Borough Council has issued a warning about fraudulent GoFundMe pages set up to collect donations for victims of the Stourbridge wildfires. The council is urging residents to avoid donating to any online appeals not officially verified, after 19 homes were destroyed in the fires earlier this week.
Council's official warning and advice
In a daily briefing on Saturday, chief executive of Dudley Council Balvinder Heran advised residents to be “cautious” when sharing or donating to online appeals. She said: “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.”
The council has established its own fundraising page for those wishing to make a financial contribution to affected residents. A Facebook post on Friday warned about “fake fundraising pages” and said: “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.”
GoFundMe's response and safety measures
A GoFundMe spokesperson said: “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. We remain the only major platform with a Giving Guarantee, allowing donors to give in confidence.”
The platform has provided guidance to help donors spot fake fundraising pages. This includes carefully checking web addresses to ensure contributions are made via legitimate platforms, and donating to platforms with a donor guarantee so that money can be refunded if something is not right.
How to avoid falling victim to scams
Donors are also advised to consider who told them about the fundraiser and to contact customer care teams if there is any uncertainty. The council has asked residents to be “cautious when sharing or donating to online appeals, and help us spread the word so people don’t fall victim to scams”.
The Stourbridge fire, which destroyed 19 homes, has prompted an outpouring of support, but also attracted fraudulent activity. The council’s official fundraising page remains the only recommended channel for financial donations at this time.
