Charity organizer infuriated by fraudsters who took advantage of kindness

A woman who helps connect donors with those in need in western Newfoundland says she's had to be on guard against cheaters willing to lie about their lives, while taking advantage of the kindness of others. 

Traci Park started a Pay It Forward Facebook group in Corner Brook last fall, in a campaign to pass along good will that had been shown to her.

Members of the group can ask for help or offer an item they wish to give away, but Park says some people have made her rethink how the group should operate.

"A lot of it is people taking advantage. The need isn't there, but they claim that it is," she said in an interview. 

As an example, Park told the Corner Brook Morning Show about a request for help for a young mother expecting her second child.

'Both of these accounts are fake'

The Pay It Forward group was able to secure enough items to "outfit an entire nursery," only to find out that the woman's circumstances weren't as stated. 

Another person on Facebook had vouched for the woman who was supposedly in need.

We're doing it because we're kind people. How dare you take advantage of us?- Traci Park

"As we were getting ready to arrange for delivery, it came to our attention that both of these accounts were fake. So we put the brakes on that one."

Park said, in a couple of other cases, there were requests based on a dire need for groceries.

While going to the given address to drop off the needed items, Park said donors found circumstances that led them to feel their generosity was being abused.

"Some of the people who donated were not pleased when they dropped off and the need wasn't there at all."

"It's infuriating. And it hurts, because we're just regular people, we do what we can, and people seem to feel this sense of entitlement," said Park.

"In reality we don't have to help you. We're doing it because we're kind people. How dare you take advantage of us?"

Trend away from traditional charities

Penelope Rowe, chief executive officer of the Community Sector Council, says people like Park may have reason to be concerned.

She said while most people will only ask for help when in real need, there will always be those who abuse any system.

"People can always take advantage. So I don't think we're ever going to be able to safeguard against every person who will attempt to take advantage," Rowe said in an interview. 

The problem with individual charitable acts is that it's more difficult to have sufficient checks and balances in place. 

You need to be careful with your own money, your own giving.- Penelope Rowe

Rowe said traditional volunteer and non-profit groups are more likely to have safeguards built into their system of receiving donations and providing help.

"The bottom line is that people who give, whether they're giving individually or whether they're giving through organizations, really need to be clear about what they're doing, and you need to do your research," said Rowe, whose organization represents volunteer and non-profit organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador. 

Out of the goodness of the heart

Rowe noted that there are many more individual fundraising activities than in the past, especially because of social media and crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe. 

"People want to engage differently. People really respond to a story, and we have a much more effective way through social media to get those stories out," said Rowe, adding it`s easier now for people to contribute without the need to co-ordinate with others or attend meetings. 

It really is buyer-beware when you're giving your money.- Penelope Rowe

In the case of GoFundMe campaigns, she says they are easy to set up and, if shared widely, can raise a lot of money quickly. 

"With the younger generation, we know that they want to do things differently. Rather than just cutting a cheque, they want to get involved in what they're doing."

Rowe says she's seen online fundraising campaigns where the money raised far exceeded the need as originally outlined.

In such a situation, she says there's no accountability for where the excess money goes, and no obligation on the part of recipients to account for where any money is spent. 

"If somebody raises money because there's been a hard-luck story, and they're an individual who has decided to raise money, the accountability is very different," said Rowe.

"So you just need to really keep your eye on it. Do you know the person who's raising money? Do you trust that person? Do you think there's enough accountability in place?

"It really is buyer beware when you're giving your money."

Changes to track abuse

Traci Park said she and other group administrators do what they can to screen requests, but admits it's difficult and some requests with less merit may get past.

"We have our own investigations unit, as I like to call it, on our admin team." 

We don't want the people who are donating to be left with a sour taste in their mouth.- Traci Park

But Park said she's already trying to improve screening of requests, by implementing a "vouch program" so someone else has to attest to a person's need before a request will be met.

She said they're also looking at some sort of waiver.

"We're definitely going to have to make some changes because we don't want the people who are donating to be left with a sour taste in their mouth."