To think DP is being used by so called "friend"

The crux of it. He's not half dim

Will he have the cash in a briefcase that he is handcuffed to?

Germany of course have a sickness benefit which can be claimed but I'm assuming they haven't paid anything into the scheme as they are not eligible

Pretty much all of the German benefits are dependent on having contributed to the system beforehand. There are benefits that can be applied for if you haven't paid into the various schemes but they will be much lower and your financial situation will be taken into account to calculate these. If the wife does cleaning work there is a good chance she is doing it cash in hand or she is staying below the threshold required for starting to pay contributions (that used to be 400 Deutschmarks per month, not sure where it is now) and is now not covered by any of the standard benefits.
They (the friend and wife) should have a chat with someone who could help them access the benefits that they are entitled to, the Arbeiterwohlfahrt for example, has advisors that are very non-judgemental.

The fact that your DP keeps saying he’s not doing anything illegal suggests he doesn’t want to do anything illegal. It might be worth pointing out that he probably is doing something illegal. The friend and his partner are clearly doing something illegal otherwise they would have no concern about the money being traced to them. Your partner is facilitating this. So if he is concerned about legality, he shouldn’t do this.

This is so ridiculous and dodgy I don’t know where to start

your dp is an idiot, sorry

i bet the wife isn’t even ill.

I’m afraid this sounds extremely dodgy and your other half is being used by this so called friend. He needs to give this so called friend a wide berth and I’d be refunding the money to those who donated. Your other half needs to wake up and smell the coffee and block this friend from his life. Oh, and I don’t believe the cancer story either.

Seems like a lot of effort for a benefits scam.

I think they are or have been selling something and these "donations" are actually payments for the product or services.

And the amount of effort to cover their tracks probably means it is something your DP should not want to be patsie for

This sounds very dodgy. The money must be traceable - surely the friend/wife’s name must be on it somewhere or how would people know who the money was for, when donating?

The photos are probably not real. Who takes photos of themselves in hospital or sends blood test results to a friend (unless friend is a Dr)?

I think your dp is opening himself up for potential fraud and I know he seems very kind hearted, perhaps he’ll have time to reflect on this in prison (v extreme I know).

I wouldn't be with a man who is thick enough and spineless enough to get involved in an obvious scam. I'd be scared he will give away our life savings to a Nigerian Prince or something

Sounds tricky. Money has been raised - and hopefully the GoFundMe was honest in its description - eg supporting couple overseas who can’t work due to cancer treatment for the woman.
for me the tricky bit is withdrawing the money as your DP could look like beneficiary which opens him to fraud or tax liability potentially.
If he transfers it to the beneficiaries via bank system then it sounds ok. This is the part of the process I think your husband needs to be firm about and just say to his friend to open an account and then he will receive the money. Obviously though you can’t make DP but hope he sees sense. Is it worth contacting GoFundMe and explaining recipient doesn’t have a bank account and what usually happens in these situations? They may be able to advise?

In the nicest way come the fuck on! This is clearly very dodgy af for some reason or other. Your partner has the right to involve himself if he's thick enough but you have the right to protect yourself. I'd be telling dp very bluntly that you won't involve yourself and that he needs to deal with any fallout and that if necessary you will leave him because that's the consequence if he fails to consider how this might affect his partner who should be a priority. I'd protect your own finances (at Gringotts in a vault with dragons if needed) as well as your DP clearly can't be trusted to make rational financial decisions.

DH needs to give his head a major serious wobble for getting involved in this in the first place. Stupid.

Exactly this...

Germany is fab for Healthcare /general benefits... My fam are partially German

If he's not claiming, he can have the money transferred into his bank account.... Like normal people.

The only possible explanation is he's claiming SOME benefits and is wanting to hide the money to defraud German state...

Which your husband will be accessory to..

Your husband is a mug... Also the gofundme could be on his back too... If shown that folk were using it for not intended purpose.....

Repeat :HE IS A MUG...!!

I'd be getting really really in his face about this...

How much is he willing to risk to help this 'friend'....

There are limits to how much money you can take out of the country, remind him if he gets stopped by a cash dog etc.... he's not going to be in a great place legally that may sway him into some more logical thinking

Gotta love "anarchists" who don't believe in working but are quite happy to live off those who do.
Your dh is an idiot and I hope his good intentions don't cause him any legal issues.

Leaving hat aside I’d be worried about a) your tax position, it will be seen as his money and taxable in his hands,b) money laundering, his triggers so many red flags and c) possibly,funding terrorise, collecting money from small untraceable sources and moving it internationally when you don’t know where it’s going/ what it is for ( your mate saying so isn’t enough) rings so many bells. He could go to prison.

What area of work does your DP do? Is it a regulated industry or one aligned to a profession (e.g. banking, law, accountancy)?
This is literally a use case in certain fraud training: acting as a man-in-the-middle for no real reason.
At best, it’s “only” benefits fraud. I would be furious and unable to look beyond it. What line would he cross next?

Thing is though the money is traceable to your DH. So when people ask what the money is being used for your DH could then be accused of theft if there is no papertrail.
Also if it is as they get no help as such most people would still put in if they think highly of them so it makes no sense.
It just seems off this whole thing.

If your husband is withdrawing the money from the Go Fund Me, he will be seen as the beneficiary, especially if there is no trace of the funds going elsewhere.
He will need to declare this on his tax return. As it be considered taxable income.

community.hmrc.gov.uk/customerforums/taxcredits/c7ecc942-1f86-ef11-9442-002248c80eb4#:~:text=As%20per%20the%20law%2C%20you,the%20form%20of%20Gift%20Aid.

How do you even know if his partner really exists or really has cancer?

I would not be happy with this at all like you OP. I often look at GoFundMe's and think they are dodgy AF...full of dodgy free loaders that have wasted their own money, bought nice things/ holidays and not prepared for rainy day at best.

And it it is a possibility they are faking her illness, which is possibly why they don't want it in their name. But from what you have described you have made your feelings known multiple times. Like with one of your kids you can only advise and then stand back and let somebody make their own decisions and possibly mistakes. Your partner has decided. Now just let it be... don't let it damage your relationship. I'd check the gofundme though and make sure there's no misrepresentation to your family and friends. I wouldn't be happy about my nearest and dearest donating when your partners friend is more than capable of working, but chooses to leech of the 'conformists' he looks down on to lead a supposed 'anarchist' freeloader lifestyle 🙈🙈

This

Your username sent my morning coffee snorting up my nose- but yes, @Queenjuliana ought to be very concerned.
Report the Go fund me and the donors will get their money back.

This is very dodgy sounding.

@Queenjuliana This sounds very suspicious.
Report it to ''Go fund me'' and the donors will get their money back.

They are on benefits, and that's why the money has to be ''untraceable''.

This is fraud. Stop it now. It is raising money on false pretences. Seriously you are looking at jail time. Return the money to donors.