Would you send money to a stranger on the internet?

[TBHno]

Just that really.

I'm a big believer in charity. I occasionally give cash to the homeless. All of my unwanted clothes, books etc. go to charity shops. I have 2 monthly direct debits to charities that I trust.

However, I would never give money to a stranger on the internet. The only exception I can think of is Gofundmes of Crowdjustices.

A lot of threads on here seem to get deleted because people are being scammed into sending money. I just don't get this? In 99% of cases, it would be a scam?

Anyway, I'm interested in hearing if anyone has actually done this, and what happened after?

The MN secret Santa was dreadful , it wasn’t vetted to be people who were in need , you could easily have been sending your well thought out gifts and foodie treats to a millionaire - complete waste of time . At least you’d hope charity actually helps people who need help .

I have helped people financially on another site that I use that has a much smaller user-base and most people have been there for years and years. From long posting stories and online relationships built up over years, I have been as confident that they were really in need as I would have been a friend in real life.

No way would I send money to a sob story on here. Too many people chancing their luck and never to a poster I have never had contact with before.

I give to specific local charities only. A lot of GoFundMe pages are scams. I'd never send money to a poster on here, no matter how heartbreaking their story is.

I have once on another site. It was a much smaller site and the poster in question was a long-term user. A few people had met her. She posted very late at night after being assaulted by her husband so I sent her the money for a taxi. If it was a scam then it was £20 I'd happily lose just in case it was genuine.

I gave a reasonably large amount to someone on here years ago and I think it was genuine. I would never do it again though. I never liked the Christmas appeal as I felt it ended up being a popularity competition and as the site got bigger I think people started aiming threads in October to get nominated.

It really was a lovely idea at first but people ruin things.

No I would not do this.

I have made material gifts to assist a young person overseas go through university and establish a career. I first met them as an orphan brought to the U.K. about 20 years ago. I knew their teacher and another pupil’s family. They eventually went back to their home country with an established guardian to complete secondary education. By chance I came across their name through some work I was involved with, made some initial enquiries and concluded they were the same young person now a young adult. After establishing proof, via copies of passport and national ID number, with the help of an international notary, and background checks, I have helped with tuition, housing and eventually a career. The amount sent over the last five years is significant. We phone call and FaceTime a few times a year. There is no scam, but that is because of the pre-existing circumstances and the opportunity to check the background properly. At no time have I been asked to give anything. It is purely one way. That’s a difference to most.

No, not a stranger on the internet, but I have helped out people in real life and organised support for charities such as Women's Aid.

I once offered to get a good shop for someone on here telling a tale of woe, they declined. I then suggested I send some cash so she could buy herself something to cheer herself up as she was so low. She took me up on that offer funnily enough, I didn't send the cash

*Food shop

I've donated to a justgiving when someone I'd followed for AGES on Twitter had to find a couple of grand for the vets bill to save his beloved dog. It wasn't more than I could afford and if it was a scam he was playing an incredibly long game of it, his followers had all watched the dog grow up from a puppy in real time.

On the other side, i was sent £80 by a group of MNetters when I was going through a terrible experience it made a huge difference. Restored my faith. I didn’t ask for it. I was on a baby group, we all had gotten to know each other on Facebook too.

Would also like add that a few years ago I was away from home and something very upsetting happened. I'd alluded to the situation (again on Twitter) and a long-time follower sent a DM offering to help with a flight home if I needed.

Thankfully I didn't, but I was very touched by the offer.

I would never give money to a stranger on the internet. The only exception I can think of is Gofundmes of Crowdjustices

Not sure how they're "exceptions" - unless you know the people behind them, surely that is giving money to strangers on the internet?

I've raised a great deal for local chaities and support a couple on an ongoing basis, but an online stranger with a sob story? No way

Once I did but I could afford it, I'd been good online friends with her for about 6 years and I knew she was really in a bad place.

Would I give to some random I didn't know asking on a site like Mumsnet? Christ no.

Probably not.

I was once very kindly given money from a MN poster and it definitely was legit! I was in a very bad place (and did NOT post a sob story!) I of course said no 3 times but she absolutely existed. I also tried several times to pay her back a week later but she wouldn't accept it. I made a mental note to pass on the kindness.

I know most are likely to be a scam, but not all!

Like I said, I absolutely did not post a sob story. However if someone is struggling and is genuinely asking for ideas how to make to some extra cash, how cruel is it for us to then immediately accuse them of posting a sob story??? Food for thought

I gave £170 to someone I didn’t know i met in person last year. It was all I had on me. I would give it again . Actually I gave about the same to someone else a few weeks later

Truly staggering that people have fallen for sob stories on here. A fool and their money are soon parted!

@Polnm

I gave £170 to someone I didn’t know i met in person last year. It was all I had on me. I would give it again . Actually I gave about the same to someone else a few weeks later

What a good person you are.... Regardless of whether they were genuine or not - your soul is decent & kind

@WellTidy

Back when MN used to do a Christmas gift thing, where you could volunteer to buy a gift for a poster nominated by another poster, I sent gifts each year. Some years they were acknowledged, one year the £30 of John Lewis vouchers that I sent weren't. I have no idea if they were received by the intended recipient, or the circumstances or anything. And nobody owed me a thank you in any event. But I haven't sent money to a stranger since.

Same here, not acknowledged in any way. I wont do it again.

I wouldn't normally but there was a poster on here recently who earned £250,000 per annum and she was whining that she may not get a bonus this year. I felt it was the least I could do so I sent her that week's old age pension (£134.25) and hoped that made up for loss of bonus in some small way.

Seriously, there have been a couple of occasions when I was very tempted but decided not to. I prefer to give to charities and food banks when I am able.

I sent someone on mumsnet money to help her buy school uniform.. she sent photos of her DC wearing it. She hadn't asked or posted a begging thread but her reply to someone else's thread about uniform costs made me think she was struggling so I offered.

a few years ago i was very skint ( after paying my bills and working ) and just in general posted on threads that were relevant and at christmas i got a surprise secret santa gift voucher which was lovely, i tried to go on the thank you thread using the name that mumsnet had given me and it wouldnt let me log on i felt so guilty that i couldnt even say thank you to the lovely person who felt i needed a cheer up so sometimes people dont say thank you for different reasons

I’ve offered money twice. Once to a long term poster who was struggling at Christmas time. She had a young son, and I think I offered her £20. The other time was more recent. I didn’t recognise the poster, but although I’ve been on here nearly 20 years (different names and accounts), I don’t recognise many people. She was having a hard time but I can’t remember details.

Both posters declined.