Fake GoFundMe Campaigns Created To "Support" Damar Hamlin Following Collapse

The world continues to keep Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin in their prayers after witnessing the 24-year-old collapse in the middle of the field during the first quarter of the Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The 24-year-old was down on the field as medical personnel rushed and gave him CPR for 9 minutes. Hamlin was then loaded into an ambulance and taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he remains today.

Unfortunately, some people are looking to profit off Damar Hamlin's life-threatening injury as multiple fake GoFundMe campaigns have started.

Several of these campaigns went live within one day of Damar Hamlin suffering from cardiac arrest Monday night during the NFL game. Some of the GoFundMe campaigns claim they are raising money to help hospital bills while others are fake campaigns mocking Hamlin's true fundraiser -- The Chasing M's Foundation Community Toy Drive.

It does seem that not all the fake fundraisers appear to be hostile and that some were created by NFL fans who truly want to help, however, they did not go through the proper steps or channels to do so.

According to a GoFundMe spokesperson, who spoke to TMZ, the company is working on removing all the fake campaigns.

GoFundMe confirmed with TMZ that there is only one verified fundraiser on the website confirmed by Damar's family -- The Chasing M's Foundation Community Toy Drive.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin began the online toy drive fundraiser in 2020 to raise money to purchase toys for children.

“As I embark on my journey to the NFL, I will never forget where I come from and I am committed to using my platform to positively impact the community that raised me,” he wrote at the time. “I created The Chasing M’s Foundation as a vehicle that will allow me to deliver that impact.”

After NFL fans watched as Hamlin fight for his life Monday evening, they came together and donations began to pour in to the GoFundMe fundraiser created by the Bills safety. Within one hour of Hamlin’s collapse, the fundraiser rose to $300,000 and within a few hours of the injury, the donations hit over $2 million.

Overnight, the GoFundMe hit over $3 million from nearly 120,000 donations -- and the numbers continue to climb. As of Wednesday morning, over $6 million has been raised.

With 5:58 left in the first quarter, the Buffalo Bills vs Cincinnati Bengals game came to a stop after Bills safety Damar Hamlin suddenly collapsed on the field.

After giving CPR for 9 minutes, medical personnel rushed Hamlin to a nearby hospital. The game was officially suspended and the players and fans — of both the Bills and the Bengals — went to the hospital to join together and pray for Hamlin.

At 1:48 a.m. ET, the Buffalo Bills organization issued the following statement on Damar Hamlin’s condition.

“Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following a hit in the Buffalo Bills’ game versus the Cincinnati Bengals. His heartbeat was restored on the field and he was transferred to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for further testing and treatment. He is currently sedated and listed in critical condition.”

Damar Hamlin’s uncle, Dorrian Glenn, recently spoke out, confirming the 24-year-old remains on a ventilator, but “It seems like he’s trending upwards in a positive way."