Fake Diogo Jota Foundation Vanishes with Nearly $64K in Donations, Sparking Fraud Probe

A mysterious website purporting to be the “Diogo Jota Foundation” has disappeared after allegedly collecting over $64,000 in cryptocurrency donations from grieving fans, with Liverpool FC and the late Portuguese forward’s family vehemently denying any involvement. The scam, which surfaced just days after Jota’s tragic death in a car crash, has ignited outrage and calls for stricter oversight of online fundraising amid rising concerns over opportunistic frauds exploiting public figures’ tragedies.

Diogo Jota, the 28-year-old Liverpool striker known for his clinical finishing and contributions to the club’s Premier League triumphs, perished on July 3, 2025, alongside his brother André Silva in a horrific Lamborghini crash on Spain’s A-52 highway near Zamora. The vehicle suffered a tire blowout while overtaking another car, veered off the road, flipped multiple times, and burst into flames, according to Spanish authorities. Jota, who had recently married long-time partner Rute Cardoso and fathered three young children, was en route from Portugal to catch a ferry to England for pre-season training, avoiding air travel on doctor’s orders following lung surgery. The football world mourned deeply, with tributes from teammates like Mohamed Salah and rivals alike, and Liverpool retiring his No. 20 jersey while committing to pay out his remaining contract worth millions to his family.

In the emotional aftermath, scammers swiftly capitalized. The website diogojotafoundation.org launched on July 6—mere days after the crash—claiming to honor Jota’s journey from a modest youth academy in Gondomar, Portugal, to European stardom. It promised to “carry forward the light he left behind” through youth football camps, scholarships, meal distributions for the underprivileged, and community partnerships, boasting achievements like providing 25,000 meals, sponsoring 300 schoolchildren, and forging 50 local ties. The site featured fabricated quotes attributed to Jota, such as “Football gave me everything. I always believed in using the game to give back,” and endorsements from a supposed “close family friend.”

Donations were funneled exclusively through cryptocurrency—USDT, ETH, and others—via an off-site platform linked to NOWPayments, a method that raised immediate red flags for its anonymity and irreversibility. By August 21, the site claimed to have raised $64,250 (£47,715 or about 75,000 euros in varying reports), with addresses listed in New York, London, and Lisbon to lend legitimacy. To bolster credibility, it displayed logos from Liverpool FC, UNICEF, Allianz, and Portugal’s Platform of Development NGOs—none of which authorized their use.

The facade crumbled when The Telegraph investigated, revealing no ties to Jota’s family or Liverpool. Club officials confirmed they knew “nothing about the foundation or website,” emphasizing their own legitimate LFC Foundation initiative: a grassroots football program in Jota’s name, funded partly by sales of commemorative “Forever 20” shirts and direct prize money donations from players exceeding $500,000 pre-tax. Jota’s family echoed the denial, stating no relationship with the entity. Allianz UK decried the logo misuse as “illegal” and pursued shutdown efforts, while UNICEF and others confirmed no partnerships.

NOWPayments CEO Kate Lifshits clarified that no transactions were processed through their system, despite the site’s claims: “We are aware that the NOWPayments payment system may have been used for fraudulent fundraising… As soon as we became aware of the alleged fraud, we stopped providing our services.” The UK Charity Commission verified no registration application was ever filed—a legal requirement for entities exceeding £5,000 annually in England or Wales—classifying it as high-risk fraud. By August 22, the domain redirected to a blank page hosted by Namecheap, effectively vanishing the operation.

The Fundraising Regulator issued warnings: “In the wake of tragedies… there are always some who seek to capitalise on the British public’s generosity… Exercise caution and ensure your money goes where intended.” They advised verifying charities via official registers and seeking the Fundraising Badge. Social media erupted with fan fury, posts decrying the “sickening” exploitation of grief, and alerts to avoid crypto-only donations. One X user warned: “Plz be aware of this scam y’all!” while others shared screenshots before the site’s demise.

This incident underscores a broader surge in post-tragedy scams, as seen with fake ads for Liverpool “memorial discounts” using edited images and RIP banners targeting European fans aged 25-34. Bitdefender researchers identified over 270 fraudulent Meta ads harvesting data from unsuspecting users. Experts attribute the rise to crypto’s traceability challenges and emotional manipulation during vulnerable times.

Liverpool’s response highlights genuine efforts: beyond the LFC Foundation program, the club honored Jota with Anfield tributes, including “You’ll Never Walk Alone” renditions and player-led donations. Jota’s estate, estimated at $18-20 million from salaries, endorsements (Nike, EA Sports), eSports ventures, and real estate, ensures financial security for his widow and children, with Liverpool covering his £140,000 weekly wage through contract end.

As investigations by UK authorities like Action Fraud continue, victims are urged to report losses for potential recovery, though crypto’s nature complicates reimbursements. The case serves as a stark reminder: verify charities through official channels like the Charity Commission, avoid unsolicited crypto requests, and channel support via trusted entities like Liverpool’s initiatives. Jota’s true legacy—his on-pitch prowess and off-field generosity—endures, untainted by those seeking to profit from his memory.