Beware of crowdfunding scams: What to consider when choosing a fundraising platform

When you’re facing a crisis, the last thing you should have to concern yourself with is the threat of fraud—but that’s exactly what a grieving family was forced to deal with in February 2026. As reported by NBC, the family created a fundraiser on an online platform to memorialize their teenage son. Soon after, a different platform copied their campaign and began collecting donations without their knowledge. 

Their story was duplicated. Donations were redirected. And the family had no control over it. It’s a painful reminder that when generosity moves online, bad actors sometimes follow. 

No legitimate platform can fully prevent someone from creating a copycat campaign somewhere else on the internet. That risk exists across industries. But what a platform can control is what happens to money raised inside its own system. And if you’re looking for help with vet bills and you’re about to start a fundraiser for your pet (or other cause, for that matter), you’ll want to choose your platform carefully. 

Not all crowdfunding platforms work the same way 

Many crowdfunding sites send donations directly to the person who created the campaign. Once the funds are transferred, they’re controlled entirely by that individual. In many cases, that works fine. But it also means your supporters (friends, family, co-workers) are placing full trust in both you and the platform’s safeguards. 

Other platforms are structured differently. Some restrict withdrawals. Some verify service providers. Some direct funds only toward approved expenses. 

These differences aren’t always obvious when you’re setting up a page. But they shape how protected your supporters—and your campaign—really are. 

Why structure matters 

At Waggle, we built a donor-secure crowdfunding platform specifically for pet medical fundraising, making fundraiser safety a top priority to protect everyone involved.  

When someone donates to your pet’s campaign on Waggle, the money does not go to you. It goes directly to verified veterinarians and nonprofit partners to cover approved medical invoices. Funds cannot be withdrawn or redirected for personal use. 

That doesn’t eliminate the possibility of impersonation elsewhere online. No platform can fully control what happens outside its own system. But it does ensure that when someone supports your campaign through Waggle, their donation can only be used for one purpose: helping your pet receive medical care. 

This allows you to assure your supporters that their generosity will go where intended; that their funding will go directly towards helping your pet. For them, it reinforces confidence that their generosity is protected by design. 

Waggle protects your donors 

Starting a fundraiser is an act of courage. You’re inviting others into a painful, urgent moment. Beyond telling your story, you want to understand how the platform moves money and make sure safeguards are in place to protect you as well as your community of supporters. 

If you’re exploring fundraising options for your pet’s medical care, choose one designed to safeguard the trust you’re placing in it. At Waggle, that protection is built into every donation.