now more than ever, please vet gofundmes before you donate.
copy and paste descriptions into google to see if there are scam accounts reusing the same story, check to see if there are any images/updates on the fund with faces. go to the original blog, check if the post asking for help is only an hour old, or even less than that. refrain from donating if all it links to is a PayPal account, without any further confirmation of identity.
it’s horrible to say but it’s never been a better time for scam artists to exploit your generosity, when things seem so dire, and I’ve donated to campaigns before only to realise later that the entire story was stolen from an actual family in need. due diligence might take a few more minutes out of your day but at least you won’t be sending money to an opportunistic scumbag.
for campaigns on tumblr: please check out @/el-shab-hussein's list of verified fundraisers here on tumblr and also @/nabulsi. they both do incredible work at vetting campaigns.
there is also this spreadsheet made by @/nabulsi and @/el-shab-hussein.
Fundraiser List Vetted Gaza Fundraiser List,This list was researched and created by @/el-shab-hussein and @/nabulsi on tumblr. It is not co
other places to find vetted fundraisers are the operation olive branch spreadsheet and also gazafunds.
Find vetted fundraisers for Gaza here
I will say that while the aforementioned tips are generally applicable to vetting fundraisers, you cannot generalise with Gazans if their tumblr blog is only a few days or a few hours old.
Gazans on tumblr are making accounts for the express purpose of spreading their fundraisers because it is spreading amongst Gazans that tumblr is a safe place to do so.
They could often be making multiple blogs and even remaking after staff flags them as spam. But don't blanket assume that Gazans are scammers if they're on a new tumblr blog with no pfp or content.
I agree that until a fundraiser is vetted you shouldn't reblog it in case it is someone dishonest taking advantage of the circumstances in Gaza. But you cannot do the opposite and immediately assume they're a scammer. I'm seeing people harass Gazans sometimes who genuinely are people who just don't know how to use tumblr and are falsely raising red flags because of it.
