A Guelph woman who moderates local Facebook groups for people in need says she has been noticing requests for money that raise red flags for her.
Crista Renner is one of the founders of CareMongering Guelph - Leaning Into Community During COVID19, a Facebook group created as a community response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The intent of the group when COVID hit was a quick and immediate response to get people what they needed and it was also a way for people who had access or things to offer to get that out to the community,” said Renner.
For example, a person in need might contact the group administrators to request diapers or food.
In those situations, members of the group will help out with a short-term solution or point them in the direction of where they can get immediate help.
“The key piece is there are so many resources available, especially in our community, that can help to support these situations,” said Renner.
Lately, Renner said she has been noticing more requests for immediate financial assistance by way of money transfers to an email account.
The first one came a few weeks ago at the time of the Black Lives Matter protest. Others followed.
“She claimed to be a young black woman who was a single parent, whose father was out of the picture,” said Renner. “It was kind of a sad story. She said she was embarrassed to post.”
Renner said she was attempting to put together some money for the woman through her own network of like-minded helpers, but something about the story didn’t seem right.
“We are hesitant to put posts up for people who are asking for money,” said Renner. “But it was posted and the community sort of did the same thing I did and put in their posts ‘don’t send money.’”
Renner said she reached out to the woman directly but didn’t get a response after it was made clear no money would be sent. The post was taken down shortly thereafter.
She started seeing similar requests coming in to the group and other similar groups she moderates, with slight changes to the story.
Renner said people in the community started rallying around requests that kept popping up.
She said all who have posted the similar story have not responded after she messaged them to say money will not be sent.
“If I send a private message that says, ‘can you get in touch with me?’ they often go quiet. If they respond that they just really need money, that’s a red flag,” said Renner. “It is being able to differentiate between those who are in need and those who are looking for money. When there is a true need, they are happy to get diapers, they are happy to get food.”
Renner said she is in the process of gathering all of the information she has to take to the Guelph Police because she believes the posts may be fraudulent.
She said some people may have sent money because she almost sent some herself to the first person who requested it.
“One thing we are saying is don’t ever send money,” said Renner. “Look at the post by the person. Look at their account. Usually they appear to be very new and have only a couple of life events and they are usually a birth of a child and that's all that is posted.”
