A New Jersey couple and a homeless man are accused of having invented more than $ 400,000.
"All donors who have contributed to this GoFundMe campaign have been fully reimbursed.GoFundMe always fully protects donors, which is the reason we have a full refund policy in place," said GoFundMe spokesman , Bobby Whithorne. The campaign had attracted some 14,000 donors.
Couples Kate McClure and Mark D 'Amico and the homeless Johnny Bobbitt Jr. face charges of second-degree theft by deception and conspiracy to commit a robbery by deception.
The couple reportedly met Bobbitt when he turned over his last 20 dollars to McClure, stuck on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia to use gasoline in his car, and then launched the GoFundMe campaign to thank him. . 19659005] Kate McClure and Johnny Bobbitt Jr. "data-src-mini =" // cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/171123233706-kate-mcclure–johnny-bobbitt-small-169.jpg "data- src-xsmall = "// cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/171123233706-kate-mcclure–johnny-bobbitt-medium-plus-169.jpg" data-src-small = "http: // cdn .cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/ assets / 171123233706-kate-mcclure-johnny-bobbitt-large-169.jpg "data-src-medium =" // cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/171123233706 -kate-mcclure – johnny-bobbitt-exlarge-169.jpg "data-src-large =" // cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/171123233706-kate-mcclure–johnny-bobbitt-super- 169.jpg "data-src-full16x9 =" // cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/171123233706-kate-mcclure–johnny-bobbitt-full-169.jpg "data-src-mini1x1 =" / /cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/171123233706-kate-mcclure–johnny-bobbitt-small-11.jpg "data-demand-load =" not-loaded "data-eq-pts =" mini: 0, xsmall: 221, small: 308, medium: 461, large: 781 "src =" data: image / gif; base64, R0LGODlhEAAJAJEAAAAAAP /////// wAAACH5BAEAAAIALAAAAAAQAAkAAAIK lI + py + 0Po5yUFQA7 "/>
" The paying story that led to this fundraiser may seem too good to be true, "said Burlington County Attorney Scott Coffina, at a press conference last month. "Unfortunately, that was it, the whole campaign was based on a lie."
After deducting the costs, the proceeds of the campaign were worth about $ 367,000, all deposited in McClure's accounts, said Coffina. Bobbitt received $ 75,000 and, a few months later, McClure and Amico had "squandered" their share to buy a car, high-end handbags and travel, Coffina said.
"Make People Feel Bad"
Coffina pointed out that Bobbitt, a veteran, deserves thanks for his service to the country and sympathy for his situation. he was fully complicit in the crime, making appearances in the media to help "promote the fraudulent campaign".
According to Coffina, McClure and D & # 39; Amico met Bobbitt for the first time at an outlet located near a frequented casino, at least a month before the GoFundMe campaign was launched.
They returned to the scene a month later, said Coffina. D'Amico took a picture of McClure and Bobbitt who became the face of the GoFundMe campaign that they started hours later, said Coffina.
Investigators examined more than 67,000 SMS in the case, including one sent by McClure to a friend "Okay, wait until the gasoline part is fully prepared, but the guy does not get it. I did not have to do anything to make people feel bad. "
In other texts, the couple talked about their inability to pay their bills and raise debts.
Fight Against Fraud
The GoFundMe spokesperson pointed out that the crowdfunding site was committed to fighting fraud.
"It's important to understand that abuses are very rare on our platform," said Whithorne. "Misuse campaigns account for less than one-tenth of one percent of all campaigns, we have a zero tolerance policy for fraudulent behavior, and in the case of fraud, donors are reimbursed and we collaborate with the forces of order to recover the money.
According to its website, the company has a trust and safety team that reviews GoFundMe campaigns 24 hours a day and works to prevent fraud. It also guarantees a refund to donors in case "something is wrong with a campaign," says the site.
Madeline Holcombe of CNN, Dakin Andone, Evan Simko-Bednarski and Olivia Kiely contributed to this report.
