I was refunded the money I donated to GoFundMe for

[lunatica]

"27 YEAR OLD INJURED IN CAR ACCIDENT".

I just received the email.

[The Polack MSgt]

1. So glad this turned out to not damage

those who opened their wallets to help.

[lunatica]

2. This was thanks to those people in DU who pursued it

I'm grateful to them. I'm sorry I can't remember the names of these wonderful DUers!

[pinboy3niner]

3. See this thread...

Final update for those who gave to the Corey Baker GoFundMe campaign
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028760587

I got my refund early on.

[lunatica]

4. thanks! I left Maru a post thanking her

I love DUers!

[pnwmom]

9. How did the scammer get caught?

[pinboy3niner]

13. DUers began raising questions and researching info about the claims made

They also filed complaints with GoFundMe and with the Richmond, Indiana PD (where Corey lives).

Based on the complaints, GFM began refunding donations early on, well before the police reached any conclusions. The thread I linked to above contains info about what DUer Maru Kitteh learned from the police.

[pnwmom]

16. I wonder what about his story raised suspicions. Thanks to those smart DUers who stopped this

before it got any worse.

[dixiegrrrrl]

14. I was one who thought it did not pass the smell test.....

and there were several others who dug much deeper than I did.
so glad you got your money back!!

[pnwmom]

17. What about it tipped you off?

[dixiegrrrrl]

18. The tone..Some of the English phrasing was not the way we would normally talk

but then when he added to the post the "sudden" turn for the worse, my gut said fake, very strongly.

There were a couple of stories around a few years back about "I need money for my poor Momma" Russian girlfriend online scam,
in which once the hook was set, the "poor Momma" took a sudden turn for the worse, in an attempt to make the sucker feel urgent about sending money.

[pnwmom]

19. Good to know!

[Warpy]

5. Don't beat yourself up for getting taken in by a scam

You did the right thing, the human thing.

The scammer is the sociopath.

[lunatica]

6. You're right

The conjobs are the one's who have the problem with their lack of souls.

I'm just pretty impressed that I got it back thanks to Maru Kitten.

[Warpy]

7. Scammers discovered crowdfunding pretty quickly

and GoFundMe is one of the better ones for sniffing out scams and refunding money.

This time it was just done very quickly because the little Republican punk bragged about it on a site I won't bother to name.

[lunatica]

8. Thank you too Warpy

Obviously, from what you say, you're instrumental in getting this guy caught. I'm very glad you caught him bragging and I'm glad he's no longer here and that he didn't get to keep any of the money.

[Warpy]

10. I can't take any credit, other DUers who cruise that site caught him

I only dip a toe in the cesspool when there's something specific there I want to see. I don't remember who first posted it, but that's where the credit belongs. Maru Kitteh picked it up and ran with it, apparently.

[lunatica]

11. thanks for letting me know

[salin]

15. I completely missed that part of the story.

I was around when folks saw he had posted to his fb page while he was supposedly at death's door.

Completely missed this was a conservative scammer who bragged about his scam elsewhere.

I bet the conversation with the sheriff was a bit uncomfortable.

[cwydro]

12. This is good to hear.

Amazingly, some of those DUers who investigated this scam were excoriated by others here.

Anyone who is posting an appeal for donations and who is HONEST should never object to others who want to investigate first.

Glad you got your money back.