Mickey Rourke Says $90,000 Still on GoFundMe — Here’s How to Get Your Refund

Fans Worried About Donations? Here’s the fast, actionable way to get your money back — starting now.

If you donated to a third-party GoFundMe for Mickey Rourke — or any celebrity-linked fundraiser that later looks suspicious — you’re not stuck. High-profile cases (like the recent Instagram post from Mickey Rourke saying there’s still about $90,000 on GoFundMe) have forced platforms, banks and regulators to tighten up. But on the ground it’s still up to donors to act fast and follow the right steps. This guide walks you through exactly what to do, in the UK and beyond, with templates, timelines and the evidence you’ll need.

Why this matters — fast

Fans give because they care. When a fundraiser appears under someone’s name — and that person later says they were not involved — donors face three problems: 1) the money may stay in the campaign, 2) the fundraiser organiser may be unresponsive, 3) the path to a refund is confusing. The Mickey Rourke situation (reported January 2026 by Rolling Stone) shows this is still happening — but it also shows refunds are possible if you move quickly and follow the right channels.

“Vicious cruel godamm lie to hustle money using my fuckin name… There will b severe repercussions,” Mickey Rourke wrote on Instagram after a GoFundMe was launched without his sign-off (Rolling Stone, Jan 2026).

Top-line checklist — do this within 48 hours

• Take screenshots of the fundraiser page, your donation receipt, and any messages or comments.
• Locate the campaign organiser — name, profile, contact details on the GoFundMe page.
• Check GoFundMe’s support flow and file a report through their Help Center or the “Report Campaign” option.
• Contact your bank or card issuer immediately to start a dispute or chargeback.
• Report the campaign to the appropriate fraud authority — Action Fraud in the UK, FTC in the US — and keep the reference number.

Step-by-step: How to request a refund

1. Gather evidence — your paperwork matters

Before you do anything else, collect a complete record. That makes every next step faster and stronger.

• Screenshot the fundraiser landing page (date-stamped if possible).
• Save your email donation receipt and transaction ID.
• Note the name of the organiser and any fundraising description claiming celebrity involvement.
• Record any posts or replies from the celebrity denying involvement (e.g., Rourke’s Instagram post).

2. Ask the organiser for a refund — short, firm, documented

Start with the campaign organiser. Many times a simple request results in an immediate refund.

Use a clear message — keep a copy:

Hi [Organiser name], I donated £/€/$[amount] to your GoFundMe on [date], campaign [campaign title]. I request a full refund because [reason — e.g., the fundraiser appears unauthorised by the beneficiary]. Please confirm by [date within 48 hours] how you will return the funds and to which account.

3. Report the campaign to GoFundMe — use their official channels

GoFundMe provides options to report suspected fraud or unauthorised campaigns. Include your screenshots, donation receipt and any public statements from the person named in the campaign (like Rourke’s post).

What to ask for: a refund, campaign freeze (to stop withdrawals), and an investigation reference number.

4. Open a dispute with your bank or card provider

If your refund request to the organiser or GoFundMe does not resolve quickly, contact your bank or card issuer and ask to file a chargeback or dispute.

• Do this ASAP. Chargeback windows vary — typically 60–120 days is common, but check your issuer.
• If you paid by credit card, ask whether Section 75 (UK) or similar protections may apply — your bank will advise.
• Provide your bank with the screenshots, receipt and any correspondence.

5. File an official fraud report

For UK donors: report to Action Fraud and to your local trading standards if you believe the fundraiser is a scam. For US donors: file a report with the FTC and local law enforcement. Keep the reference numbers — they help both GoFundMe and your bank escalate the case.

6. Escalate if needed — small claims and legal steps

If a substantial amount is at stake and you can identify the organiser, you may have civil remedies. Options vary by jurisdiction and by the size of the claim.

• Small claims court for amounts under the local threshold (UK typically up to £10,000; check current limits).
• Get legal advice if the organiser refuses to return funds and the campaign clearly misrepresented the beneficiary.

What GoFundMe’s guarantee means — and its limits

GoFundMe has historically offered donor protections and a guarantee in cases of fraud and misrepresentation. That guarantee has helped many donors recover funds, but it has limits:

• Time-sensitive: The faster you report the campaign, the better the chance the platform can freeze withdrawals.
• Proof required: You’ll need documentation showing the fundraiser was misrepresented or that the beneficiary denied involvement.
• Withdrawal state: If the organiser already withdrew funds and spent them, recovery becomes a civil action rather than a simple refund.

How long do refunds and chargebacks take?

Timelines vary:

• Platform response: GoFundMe may respond within a few days for simple cases, but full investigations can take weeks.
• Bank chargebacks: Initial provisional credits can arrive within days or weeks; full resolution can take 30–120 days.
• Law enforcement: Police or fraud units may take months to investigate, depending on evidence and resources.

Sample messages and templates (copy, paste, edit)

Message to organiser

Subject: Refund request for donation to [Campaign Title] Hi [Name], I donated £/€/$[amount] on [date]. I now request a full refund because [reason — e.g., the named beneficiary has publicly denied authorising this campaign]. Please refund to the original payment method within 7 days and confirm by email. If I don’t receive a response I’ll raise a report with GoFundMe and start a chargeback.

Report to GoFundMe (short version)

I donated to [campaign URL]. The beneficiary [name] has publicly denied authorising this fundraiser (see [link to denial]). I request an immediate review, campaign freeze and refund. My donation ID: [ID]. Screenshots attached.

Evidence checklist — what to include with every request

• Donation receipt / confirmation email / transaction ID
• Screenshot of the fundraiser page and withdrawal activity if visible
• Public denial by the beneficiary (screenshot, link or quote)
• Any messages you sent to the organiser and their replies (if any)
• Bank statements showing the charge

2026 trends that affect donors — what’s new this year

Late 2025–early 2026 brought a wave of platform and regulatory shifts you should know about:

• More aggressive platform vetting: Crowdfunding platforms have increased identity checks and AI-based fraud detection after a series of celebrity-linked abuses.
• Faster dispute workflows: Payment processors and banks rolled out streamlined digital dispute forms and provisional credits to reduce donor pain.
• Social verification pressure: Celebrities and public figures increasingly add verified mega-posts or official donation links; if a donation link is not on an official account, be skeptical.
• AI-generated impersonations: Advances in synthetic media have made fake fundraiser pages and

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