A few weeks ago, my cousin Lisa fell victim to a crypto crowdfunding scam that appeared extremely genuine at first glance. Lisa found a GoFundMe-style campaign on social media promoting an urgent fundraising effort to support communities affected by recent natural disasters. The campaign requested donations in Bitcoin and Ethereum, emphasizing the immediacy of crypto transfers for faster aid delivery.

Touched by the emotional appeal and seeing that many others had donated, Lisa quickly sent about $500 worth of Ethereum to the wallet address listed. However, shortly after sending the funds, she began noticing warnings from legitimate charities cautioning donors about fake campaigns exploiting people’s goodwill.

Concerned, Lisa revisited the original campaign page only to find it deleted, and the organizers’ social media accounts removed. After further investigation, she discovered her donation had gone directly to scammers exploiting the disaster to steal funds from compassionate donors.

Lisa was heartbroken, not just because she lost money, but because her intention to help was abused. This incident serves as a powerful reminder: always verify crowdfunding campaigns thoroughly, donate directly to established organizations through official channels, and remain cautious about donation requests, especially those involving cryptocurrency, which scammers frequently use due to its irreversible nature.