URGENT UPDATE: San Antonio Pets Alive! has issued a warning about an unauthorized GoFundMe page falsely claiming to represent the nonprofit. The alarming news comes as the organization’s Executive Director, Bob Citrullo, expresses grave concerns over potential scams that could mislead donors.
Citrullo stated, “Every dollar is vital to take care of these animals that we’re saving their lives.” The unauthorized page, which was discovered earlier today, has already raised over $1,300 without the organization’s consent. “When you see something like this and then people donate to it, and then they find out it’s a scam… it’s very concerning,” he added.
Last month, GoFundMe launched more than 1.4 million donation pages for registered nonprofits across the U.S. However, Citrullo emphasizes that these pages must be approved by the organizations they represent. “It’s very misleading,” he noted, highlighting the need for transparency and trust in online fundraising.
In response to the mounting backlash, a spokesperson from GoFundMe confirmed that the misleading page for San Antonio Pets Alive! has now been removed. All donations previously collected will be delivered directly to the nonprofit through the PayPal Giving Fund. “We strive to connect nonprofits with new donors,” the spokesperson stated, acknowledging the concerns raised by organizations like San Antonio Pets Alive! regarding the unapproved pages.
Citrullo urges potential donors to exercise caution: “Really look at where you’re donating and honestly go to the organization’s website.” He reiterated that San Antonio Pets Alive! only accepts donations through their official site, SanAntonioPetsAlive.org.
This incident raises critical concerns about the integrity of online fundraising platforms. As of now, GoFundMe has implemented changes to ensure that only nonprofits that opt-in and complete the verification process will have public, searchable pages on their platform. Citrullo hopes that this will help rebuild trust with donors.
As the situation develops, San Antonio Pets Alive! remains committed to transparency and urges the community to verify fundraising efforts before contributing. The organization is actively working to ensure all funds raised through legitimate channels directly benefit the animals they serve.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as authorities continue to address the issue of unauthorized fundraising.
