GoFundMe closed down a fundraiser for 81-year-old Donald Johnson, which had raised nearly $740,000 to support his wife’s cancer treatment, reportedly following allegations it was set up by his daughter who disguised her true identity. Speaking to NewsNation, GoFundMe said on September 25 it received a tip that “Erin H,” the person who set up the fundraiser, was actually Johnson’s daughter. The publication reported that “Erin H,” who made no mention of being related to Johnson on the fundraiser, admitted to being his daughter on a recorded call when asked by GoFundMe.
On the archived GoFundMe page, the person identifying themselves as Erin said they were "reaching out to our community today because of a heartbreaking scene I witnessed right outside my front door." They described seeing Johnson "painstakingly carrying my heavy luggage" that had been lost on a recent flight, which he said was to raise money to fund cancer treatment for Josephine Johnson, his wife of 57 years. In a statement to Fox4, GoFundMe said: “Ensuring GoFundMe is a safe and trusted place to give and receive help is our top priority. After further review by our Trust & Safety team, the organizer account and fundraiser have been found to be in violation of our Terms of Service, and the fundraiser removed and refunded.
GoFundMe’s policies, along with those of our payment processors, require authenticity and transparency for donors, and are strictly enforced.” Newsweek contacted GoFundMe for comment via email outside of regular office hours. This is a developing story and will be updated.
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