UK man jailed for fake grieving-father fundraisers that raised over £10,000

Robert Ashton, a man from Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, was jailed for running fake online fundraising campaigns that amassed over £10,000. According to prosecutors, Ashton fabricated a story about losing his partner to Covid-19 and said he was left alone to raise their children. He created false social media accounts and directed people to GoFundMe and JustGiving pages asking for money to help cover expenses and support his family.

Donors, believing they were aiding a grieving parent and his children, contributed to the fraudulent appeals. Police revealed that dozens of people, especially vulnerable individuals, had been affected by Ashton's deception, highlighting the emotional manipulation of people through heartrending narratives. Ashton pleaded guilty to fraud and was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, with an additional £290 in compensation to the victims.

Hertfordshire Constabulary urged those who might have been deceived by similar schemes to report it to Action Fraud, the UK's national fraud reporting service. Crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe and JustGiving strive to prevent such fraudulent activities by implementing safeguards such as identity checks and reviews of fundraising activity.

However, donors are advised to scrutinize fundraising pages, verify the organizer's identity, the intended recipient, and the intended use of the funds before contributing.