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[dennislp3]

Hello fellow B12 members!
*currently remaking the OP when I have more proper of an update for you. Thanks for clicking*

[Strife26]

Six digit goal?

[dennislp3]

Yes... unfortunately my goal is not determined by some arbitrary "this seems like a good goal" but rather a real number. The goal may seem daunting but $20 from 5000 people us not too lofty in a place with millions of users connected through multiple social media platforms (the internet)... how well it works out is based on how many people see it.... and little else. This is why I posted here.... one more place where people might be kind enough to at least share the page.

Not to mention this is GoFundMe. There is no deadline and even without reaching the goal I would still get any money towards put towards the goal even if not reached.

Another thing to consider is that people can give recurring payments because it is on GoFundMe.... one person donating one dollar a month for a year is still extremely helpful. I have done my best to set it up transpararently without making it seem impossible. I am working on getting copies of the loan details now so people can see the paperwork themselves.

[dennislp3]

They currently have my page suspended because they claim I did not state who I am despite the first section being about me haha.... working on correcting the issue

[dennislp3]

GoFundMe can not be used to pay off debts...Seems odd. Will have to get it on a new platform

[Trapezohedron]

Indiegogo?

Though I'm not sure of crowdfunding plats.

[Beggars` Sect]

I have become good friends with more than a few people and it turns out that they too have problems like everyone else! Unfortunately one friend in particular is in an especially difficult problem through no fault of her own and it is absolutely destroying her life. She has done a great deal to help me learn about Chinese culture and has been very helpful in helping me learn spoken Mandarin.

Sadly her family is under the oppressive hand of loan sharks and I am taking the initiative to help ensure this problem can be fixed! Please check out my GoFundMe page on the matter and donate if you can or at least spread the page on social media to help out. If you have any questions feel free to ask here or there and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

I got one question mate: is this all serious? I mean, you set up a GoFundMe for a Chinese person (most likely met only on the internet) who told you she needs money for loan sharks? And now i`m supposed to give YOU money so you can give it to her?

I mean, I`m rubbing my eyes here...I`m a bit new to this "fund me" fad, but if this actually works then...sweet mother of Lawd Almighty.

[dennislp3]

Indiegogo and more specifically their child platform, Generosity, seems to be the best option.

I got one question mate: is this all serious? I mean, you set up a GoFundMe for a Chinese person (most likely met only on the internet) who told you she needs money for loan sharks? And now i`m supposed to give YOU money so you can give it to her?

I mean, I`m rubbing my eyes here...I`m a bit new to this "fund me" fad, but if this actually works then...sweet mother of Lawd Almighty.

While I understand what you are saying you are making a few logical leaps (which I have not necessarily touched on in this thread so it makes sense). I have known her for well over 4 months now and we speak on a daily basis. She never told me about the loan issues on her own. I found out about the problem through simple questions over time, it was in no way something she brought up nor has she once asked for money, in fact she has told me many times that she would rather I not help as she doesn't want to get me involved and feels that it is not a burden she wishes to put on anyone else. I recently convinced her that getting help is not a bad thing and she reluctantly allowed me to help. If you do some research you will find that loan sharks are not an uncommon problem in China.

The notion of passing money from your pocket to my pocket to the pocket of someone else is obviously not the most preferable situation but I do not know any platforms that allows a Chinese beneficiary to claim the money of a US or UK based crowdfunding project. Depending on the speed/success of the campaign this may not be necessary. I am moving to China in August to teach English and I will be there for 6 months (and then possibly to stay permanently) and may be able to handle the entire process from start to finish without the money ever leaving my possession.

Furthermore I have done my due diligence. I am not stupid and I tend to have a hard time trusting anyone about anything. I have personally seen not only bank statements showing payments but also the paperwork covering the terms of the loans. Once again she did not bring it up and helping her was my idea but I still proceeded to make sure it was a real problem before offering to help. This of course would also be followed up with proper paperwork showing how the money is spent...because believe it or not it is illegal to run a campaign like this and fraud people...and I don't need legal troubles.

Finally I would like to (hopefully sooner rather than later) start my own non profit to help with issues like this by restructuring bad (high interest) loans to a low rate (5% is the current idea as in most cases that will nearly break even after all costs are considered based on my research) with the possibility of loan forgiveness in some cases (like this current one). As such this is the only a natural project for me to take on because it aligns with my goals. Perhaps my presentation should be "I would like to start a non profit and here is the first task!" instead of my current "here is something that needs done and if the goal is exceeded I shall start a non profit with it". I am working in this order for 2 reasons, the first being that I am still seeking an artist that is willing to work on artwork for the non profit and because I would like to do this to prove to myself (and others) that such a thing is truly possible.

I am only attempting to do this because I have seen many more less serious and practically insane crowdfunding things work out for people...including multitudes of other debt repayment crowdfunding projects.

My personal philosophy is that people are far more valuable than any amount of money and no amount of money should ruin anyone's life, especially when I consider this person a good friend who has not once shown me a single ounce of deception or desire to take my money in any way.

I don't expect hardly anyone to give me money (hence why I am asking for help to spread the project) but at the same time I realize we live in a world with nearly 8 billion people and I have faith that a few thousand people on the internet have a little more love for a human (even a stranger) than a $5 in their bank account. If I had the ability to pay it off I would...but I don't so I am taking the initiative to find a way that I can help.

I am more than happy to answer any questions or respond to any doubts. I am also willing to do whatever it takes to preserve the integrity of such a campaign and ensure nothing goes amiss with any money.

Also this "fund me" thing is hardly a fad and it is probably more akin to how DLC has become integrated into video games. It is simply a new way of doing things due to the utilization of modern tools (the internet in this case). I will have the new, properly working, project page up in a few hours.

[Trapezohedron]

Much as I'm inclined to believe you though, one can't be too careful of Valentine Operatives.

But then again, if people could fund a potato salad, I don't see how people can't fund something like this.

[lordcooper]

Yeah, maybe I've just played a little too much Eve, but this is setting off so many alarm bells.

[kilakan]

Aye, I know multiple people who I talk to daily on the internet and to be honest, I'm not gonna give em 6 figure digits of cash because they claim they need it after knowing them for 4 months.  Also you mention that this friend has never asked for your money... but now you're asking complete strangers to give you cash to give them. 

Sorry man but this seems absolutely insane to me, good luck I guess but the whole notion of asking random people to help pay off a friends loan really makes me a tad sick.

[dennislp3]

I guess my years of being a member here and not being a shady character holds no weight?

The fact that there would be a paper trail of everything and legal ramifications if I was scamming people means nothing? Yes I think it is pretty sad and you apparently have been playing too much EVE if you think the real world is the same as EVE...pretty scary comparison to keep making.

You aren't even listening very well it seems because you say stuff like "they claim they need it" (which they never did) and you even state that in the next sentence "this friend has never asked for your money".

Also you describe how crowdfunding works...exactly how it works "you're asking complete strangers to give you cash to give them."

I guess I just put more value on people than others...like I said I don't expect many people to give. Was hoping for some support but in a handful of posts I have been called crazy multiple times. Guess it was a mistake to think I could get any support here. You all make it sound like I am asking one person to give me tons of money to blow in Vegas.

I will lower my goal and see if that helps...though if it does that seems hilarious...cause psychology I guess? Even though it would likely just mean running multiple campaigns.

I will also refrain from posting the link here until I get some money under the campaign since this is a poor place to start.

[Trapezohedron]

While I don't exactly believe you to be of the ill sort, we're thinking about the possibility that you might be 'fooled' by their plight.

Also, you haven't exactly discussed her situation in excruciating detail as to why some people should donate. I'd donate a few bucks myself if I had a credit to do it, but I suppose well-wishing doesn't exactly do anyone favors, since I don't. Because like I said, I don't mind because people even spend things on potato salads...

Speaking of which, psychology-wise, people hate to be at the position to be losing anything. If, say, you won't offer anything in return, people who don't immediately think giving for it's own sakeare going to do a double take. With the potato salad, people were sold on the idea of a ridiculous kickstarter that they were buying amusement.

As a marketer, it's hard to convince people if you don't have quite a solid premise. And honestly, you don't have a solid premise. Beyond telling us that that person didn't ask for your help and you're asking for our help for their own sake even if they didn't ask for it, you told us basically nothing about the situation.

Four months isn't exactly a long time for a best-friendship to flourish, on average. I suggest you do a reconsideration whether helping her is the right thing, as there might be "Valentine Operatives" in that situation. And I would really advise against getting too attached with an internet personality.

E: As for being a poor place to start, you might be right. Try asking your immediate friends in your social media for help.

[dennislp3]

I had detailed everything in the gofundme but they shut it down and banned me from the site and removed the project so I cant copy paste everything...its taken me a while to get it back up on generosity because I am busy. Apparently debts can not be repaid on gofundme.

One of the main points that everyone has ignored is the fact that I mentioned I saw the actual loan paperwork and bank statements for payments and I would deal directly with the creditors myself to eliminate any chance of a "valentine operation". I am going to China this year and would literally be able to hand the money over physically myself. I have (and will continue)  to do my part to ensure there is no act of fraud. I am not stupid.

I also outlined how the money would go to a charity if there was more than needed (or if some other scenario warranted it). Or I would make my own if there was enough donated.

On the psychology point of people losing out...if people are looking to donate to a cause for the sake of gain then those are the people I would never expect to donate as they are clearly not in a position of giving. If people want something in return I am not exactly sure what to offer since most things would only increase the needed money. Contacting friends and family is not an issue at the moment except for the part where the campaign isn't up (again) yet. Not all crowdfunding is a Kickstarter with expected returns.

I also never stated anything about "best friend"...this thread seems to be full of people putting words in my mouth...

[nenjin]

It's not that people here don't trust you dennislp3. It's just that.....from an outsider's perspective, you're trying to run a 6 figure campaign for someone you've only known a couple months, who lives in a world totally separated from your's, who needs money because of "loan sharks."

Couple things:
1. To average observer your relationship isn't well founded. You're pen pals.
2. Her being female and you being male one might believe you've got some sort of romantic investment in helping this woman and her family out. Whether that's true or whether you're just a good guy is irrelevant. What matters is what the people clicking your link will think.
3. You're trying to help her family recover from poor decisions rather than, say, an act of God.
4. "Loansharks" is the wrong word to use to describe a legitimate loan. That word is reserved for people who break your legs if you don't pay up.

All of those are red flags. I wasn't going to say anything but my first impression on reading the thread was all of those things, and now that others have chimed in.....

If you want my honest advice.....do not mention her. It's not about her right? It's about her family. Strike the word loanshark from your vocabulary, it makes this look more sketchy that it actually might be.