A down-on-his-luck Lehigh Township veteran suffering from Non-Hodgkin lymphoma elicited sympathy and $36,000 in contributions from about 1,000 donors through a GoFundMe page.

But Christopher King was neither a veteran nor was he suffering from this aggressive form of blood cancer.

The final chapter of this ruse that began in 2017 played out in Northampton County court last month when King was sentenced to one to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to the fraud in July.

President Judge Michael Koury Jr. also ordered King to make restitution and to send letters of apology to those whom he duped into contributing.

During sentencing, King’s girlfriend claimed that her boyfriend was actually trying to help her father, who was terminally ill and who died in 2018, but King could never prove this to the satisfaction of investigators or the judge.

It is yet another instance where the public needs to reassess how it donates to this ever-growing call to fund causes. Many are legitimate, but some are not.

There was, of course, the granddaddy scam of them all in 2017: A woman, her boyfriend and a homeless man fabricated a heartwarming story of compassion that drew more than $400,000 in donations on GoFundMe. The problem was, however, that none of it was true.

A representative for the crowdfunding page said that refunds have been made to all donors in that case. The company hopes to force restitution from the three defendants, two of whom have pleaded guilty while the other is awaiting sentencing. All are facing federal and state charges.

In the Lehigh Township case, GoFundMe shut down King’s account in 2017 after suspicions arose that his claims might not be legitimate. The investigation was touched off by a Lehigh Township resident who contacted township police about suspicions about King’s claims.

The crowdfunding plea had international legs, as the story received press coverage as far away as England, especially after one of the actors on the hit TV series “The Walking Dead” had donated to the campaign.

With so many campaigns going on through GoFundMe and other crowdfunding platforms, those with a good heart and concern for their neighbors are conflicted over whether these pleas for help are legitimate or bogus.

GoFundMe officials say their main goal is to ensure that all of the money raised is used for the officially stated campaign narrative. The company also has a mechanism to ensure that all donations are delivered accurately and to the appropriate recipient.

They also suggest that prospective donors ask these questions: How is the campaign organizer related to the intended recipient of the donation? What is the purpose of the campaign, and how will the money be used? Are direct family and friends making donations? Is there a clear path for the money to reach the recipient?

An example of a legitimate and successful GoFundMe campaign that has received significant local attention is intended to help with funeral expenses for Lloyd Musick, 49, of Summit Hill, who was killed while attempting to help a motorist after a crash on Route 309 in Lehigh County last month.

Musick was on his way to Schnecksville to pick up his son when he came upon the crash scene in Lynn Township. While he and two others were helping, a vehicle struck all three, killing Musick and injuring the other two.

In establishing the GoFundMe page, Musick’s daughter, Kaitlyn, called her father a hero, “a caring man with a big sense of humor.” She said her mother, Debbie, has been left with “little to nothing.” She said that her mother wants to give her father “the funeral he deserves and always wanted.”

The campaign has exceeded its $18,000 goal thanks to contributions from more than 400 donors. Because of these donations, funeral services will be held on Dec. 7 in Summit Hill.

By Bruce Frassinelli | tneditor@tnonline.com