Woman Uses Fundraiser to Pay for Carnival Cruise

Most individuals donate to GoFundMe and different on-line fundraiser websites to assist somebody in want, to not assist pay for somebody’s cruise trip.   Whereas taking a cruise is among the finest bang-for-your-buck methods of getting away, it’s nonetheless not tremendous low-cost for these on a decent finances.

However for one lady in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the donation web site appeared like the right means for her to bankroll that getaway, though in the long run, she bought a special form of “reserving”.

Utilizing a Cousin’s Harm for Private Acquire

In keeping with information reviews, 29-year-old Vanessa Lewis of Oklahoma Borough arrange a GoFundMe in August 2024 for her cousin, Josh Robinson, who had been left with a traumatic mind damage after a critical bike crash.

Donations poured in—over $40,000— an enormous lifeline for Robinson’s rising medical payments and long-term care.

However in accordance with investigators, that cash by no means went the place donors thought it could. As a substitute, financial institution data present Lewis allegedly took greater than $37,000 for her personal use.

The Pink Flags

Suspicion began when Robinson’s household observed one thing didn’t add up. His father, now his authorized guardian, grew suspicious after recognizing trip photographs of Lewis on-line.

He finally alerted police, who dug into the GoFundMe account. What they discovered shocked everybody.

By March 2025, the once-hefty account had dwindled to only over $3,000. Investigators found a $6,200 buy for a Carnival cruise out of Miami, greater than $20,000 wired elsewhere, and 1000’s burned on on-line gaming.

Going through Felony Fees

Lewis was arrested and charged with theft by deception, monetary exploitation of a care-dependent individual, receiving stolen property, and theft by failure to deposit funds.

She’s out on a $10,000 unsecured bond, with a preliminary listening to set for September 16, 2025.

If convicted, she might resist seven years behind bars and fines pushing $15,000.

Household’s Heartbreak

For Robinson’s household, the alleged betrayal is gut-wrenching. “My coronary heart breaks for him. I simply don’t get it, how anyone might make the most of somebody that’s down as he’s, and she or he’s out residing her life,” one relative instructed native reporters.

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This isn’t the primary time somebody has been accused of misusing on-line fundraising platforms, and it seemingly gained’t be the final.

GoFundMe insists it really works with regulation enforcement on fraud circumstances and factors to its “Giving Assure,” a coverage meant to reassure donors that their contributions are protected if cash is misused.

Donors ought to, every time potential, double-check who’s behind a marketing campaign and the way updates in regards to the cash are shared.

As a result of whereas most of us are simply wishing we might put aside sufficient for a getaway, it seems no less than one individual allegedly discovered her “trip fund” at everybody else’s expense.