Fake ‘Diogo Jota Foundation’ Website Disappears After Scammers Exploit Footballer’s Tragedy
Shortly after it was discovered that the website of the “Diogo Jota Foundation” was operated by scammers seeking to profit from the Liverpool footballer’s recent tragedy, the site was shut down.
Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, tragically lost their lives in a car accident in early July, sending shockwaves through the football community.
In the aftermath, fans across Portugal, England, and Europe organized numerous initiatives to support Jota’s family. However, some individuals took advantage of the situation. The website diogojotafoundation.org was established just three days after Jota’s death, but it was revealed to be a fake.
Despite over €75,000 being donated by generous supporters worldwide—believed to go directly to Jota’s family—the scammers quickly vanished with the funds. The website showed signs of suspicion from the start, as it had no affiliation with Liverpool or Jota’s family.
Liverpool Football Club confirmed to the British Telegraph that it had no knowledge of the foundation or its website. The fake page displayed logos from organizations such as UNICEF, Allianz, and the Portuguese Platform for the Development of Non-Governmental Organizations, but none of these entities were associated with the foundation.
Additionally, the Charity Commission confirmed that the foundation had never applied for official registration.
This incident underscores the dangers of online fraud and highlights the importance of thoroughly verifying charitable initiatives, especially in the wake of public tragedies.
