Since the beginning of technology, scams have been rampant. Probably the Flintstones had their own version of scams, but with social media and the internet, it is much more widespread.
A New Jersey woman successfully managed to collect $400,000 through a fake GoFundMe.
Until she was caught.
In 2017, Katelyn McClure, 32, was, according to her story, stalled on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia with an empty gas tank. Fortunately, “Good Samaritan” Johnny Bobbitt, Jr., who was also a homeless man according to McClure, saw her and gave her his last $20 so she could fill the gas tank.
“Touched” by his generosity, she and Mark D’Amico, her boyfriend at the time, posted the story on social media. The two opened a GoFundMe entitled “Paying It Forward” for Bobbitt, posting that they were hoping to raise $10,000 to give Bobbitt enough to start a life off the streets.
The story caught the attention of netizens, and the GoFundMe campaign received more than 14,000 donors. The couple received a total of $402,000 in donations, or $367,000 after fees, according to court documents.
The scam was discovered because Bobbitt, the homeless man, was only given $75,000. Because Bobbitt was a smart cookie, he took civil action against McClure and D’Amico.
Upon investigation, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina discovered that a month before they started “Paying It Forward,” the couple met Bobbitt near a casino. They plotted the scam due to money troubles they were having, and as their text messages revealed. They also told a friend that they needed a story to “make people feel bad” so that they would donate to the cause.
McClure and D’Amico proceeded to spend the money on a BMW, a trip to Las Vegas, in casinos, and on Louis Vuitton handbags, among other luxurious items.
McClure was sentenced to three years in state prison. She will be serving that sentence concurrently with her federal sentence of one year and one day. In 2019, D’Amico pleaded guilty and received a 27-month federal term. He was also given five years in state prison which will run concurrently with the federal sentence.
The two were also ordered to return all donations back to the people who donated to the GoFundMe page.
Lastly, Bobbitt was admitted to a strict drug treatment program. Should he fail to follow guidelines, he may be sentenced to five years in New Jersey state prison. That’s how the cookie crumbles.