Crowdfunding being monitored to prevent misuse

A page on crowdfunding site GoFundMe to raise money for Miss Eu Huiling's treatment here and in India.
PHOTO: EU HUILING

It has become increasingly common: A sad story makes the rounds on Facebook and big-hearted Singaporeans open up their wallets.

In tandem, the authorities are keeping watch on such crowdfunding efforts to prevent any misrepresentation of claims or monies being misused. Individual online appeals, they say, still come under the law if they target the community here.

This means that fund-raisers are required to furnish certain information to their donors for transparency and accountability. Failing which, they could be fined or jailed.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 12, 2017, with the headline Crowdfunding being monitored to prevent misuse. Subscribe