Donald and Josephine Johnson have had their GoFundMe campaign shut down, which aimed to raise money for Josephine's cancer treatment, due to a possible violation of GoFundMe's terms of service.
A GoFundMe campaign created to support an elderly Texas couple has been taken down after the fundraising platform said it discovered issues with the accuracy of information shared in the appeal.
The fundraiser had attracted widespread attention online after a story emerged about Donald Johnson, an 81-year-old Texas man who was reportedly working a physically demanding job to help cover his wife’s cancer treatment expenses. Before being removed, the campaign had raised nearly $290,000 from donors across the country.
According to the fundraiser’s organizer, identified as Erin H, the campaign began after she allegedly saw Johnson carrying heavy luggage while working. She claimed she later spoke with him and learned that he had taken the job to help pay for medical bills related to his wife Josephine Johnson’s cancer treatment.
The story quickly gained traction online, prompting thousands of people to contribute to the fundraising effort.
However, GoFundMe announced on Sunday that it had removed the campaign after its review process identified what it described as “factual misrepresentations.”
The company did not provide specific details about the information that led to the decision, but stated that the issues violated the platform’s terms of service.
In a statement, GoFundMe said its Trust and Safety team found inaccuracies connected to the fundraiser and therefore decided to remove it from the platform.
As part of the action, all donations made to the campaign are being fully refunded to contributors.
The company emphasized that maintaining trust and transparency is essential for both donors and fundraising organizers.
GoFundMe said its policies, along with the requirements of its payment partners, are designed to ensure that fundraising campaigns provide accurate and authentic information. When those standards are not met, the platform may take enforcement action, including removing campaigns and issuing refunds.
The company also noted that donors are protected through its Giving Guarantee program, which provides refunds in rare situations where concerns arise about a fundraiser’s authenticity or accuracy.
While the fundraiser is no longer active, GoFundMe has not released further details regarding the specific concerns that resulted in the campaign’s removal.
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