GoFundMe is cracking down on Rob Mercer, the poker player who pulled a fast one by faking cancer and using the platform to raise money for the World Series of Poker in Vegas.
A spokesperson for GoFundMe has stated that all the generous donors who contributed to Rob’s fundraiser earlier this year have been fully refunded. On top of that, Rob has definitely been banned from using the fundraising platform in the future.
According to the spokesperson, GoFundMe has a zero-tolerance policy for individuals who attempt to take advantage of the kindness of its community. The company often cooperates with law enforcement authorities in investigating individuals who are formally accused of such fraudulent actions.
In case you missed it, Rob recently confessed to fabricating the cancer diagnosis in order to generate enough funds to participate in the WSOP event in Las Vegas.
He admitted to making up the story and claimed it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. Rob reportedly received donations ranging from $30,000 to $50,000 from supporters who believed he was battling colon cancer. However, in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Rob revealed that he actually made the whole thing up.
Rob further explained that he chose to fake colon cancer because he was too embarrassed to admit that he potentially had undiagnosed breast cancer. If his claim about the breast cancer is true, he won’t be able to rely on GoFundMe for financial support.
In an unexpected turn of events, professional poker player Nick Vertucci, who initially supported Rob, has now distanced himself from him and criticized Rob’s cancer hoax as “gross.”
Original article https://www.tmz.com/2023/09/22/gofundme-bans-poker-player-lying-cancer-rob-mercer-fundraiser-money-world-series-poker/