Your Guide to Donating Safely in the AI Era
AI is being used in both legitimate and fraudulent ways in fundraising campaigns. Here's how it works and how to stay vigilant:
Legitimate uses by genuine organizers:
AI as Fundraising Coach helps draft campaign messages, suggests titles/photos, and helps set fundraising goals based on platform data.
With content creation AI helps organizers brainstorm stories, structure expenses/timelines, and draft updates.
AI helps come up with "Intelligent Ask Amounts" suggest donation amounts based on donor history.
Donor analysis Machine Learning identifies patterns to target potential donors and optimize campaigns.
However, AI also makes scams more convincing.
Fraudulent uses by scammers:
AI generated fabricated photos/videos of "beneficiaries" that never existed.
Deepfake Audio/Video clones voices or videos of real people "pleading" for help.
Voice-Clone Emergencies scams are on the rise which clone a family member's voice calling for urgent money.
Hyper-Real PhishingAI-written emails/texts that bypass spam filters and mimic trusted contacts.
Fake StoriesAI-generated narratives that look authentic but are entirely fabricated.
If you are donating to a charity then The Federal Trade Commission recommends checking ratings of the charity on Give.org, CharityNavigator.org, or CharityWatch.org before donating. However, if you are donating to fund raiser to support a personal or medical emergency, these are hosted on platforms like GoFundMe, Fundly, FreeFunder.
For most personal campaigns, platforms such as GoFundMe doesn’t pre-verify before launch. Instead, they rely on transparency guidelines and post-campaign monitoring. This includes submitting answers to questions such as organizer’s name, beneficiary name, family/friend connection, specific details on funds will be spent and details on how funds will be delivered to the beneficiary. The platform mandates strict identity check requirements when it comes to withdrawing funds.
Most personal campaigns are self-verified through transparency requirements, with identity checks happening when funds are withdrawn. You (the donor) are responsible for vetting regular campaigns.
How to Verify a Campaign in 5 Minutes
Step 1: Check the URL
Is it a real GoFundMe domain (gofundme.com or gofund.me)? If it’s anything else, it’s fake.
Step 2: Google the Person
Search “[person’s name] + GoFundMe + scam” or “[person’s name] + news” to see if others have flagged it or if there’s legitimate coverage.
Step 3: Reverse Image Search
Go to images.google.com and upload the campaign photos. If they appear elsewhere online, they’re stolen.
Step 4: Contact the Organizer
Ask specific questions only the real person would know. Legitimate organizers respond to questions.
Step 5: Use Verification Tools
Check if the campaign is in GoFundMe’s official crisis hub (for disasters). This does not apply to personal or medical emergencies. For a charity verify the charity organization at Give.org (BBB Wise Giving Alliance).
🛡️ The Bottom Line: Trust, But Verify
Don’t let AI trick you into giving to the wrong people. Verify, then donate with confidence.
Your best defense is verification through independent channels, slowing down before donating, and looking for authentic human connection (video, responses, specific details). If something feels off even if the image/video looks real then verify before giving.
Also read about the other AI powered scams on the rise - AI-powered Text message scam and AI self help book scam