Image: Raquel Narraway / Chilliwack resident Raquel Narraway.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Suspicious GoFundMe

Chilliwack resident instrumental in stopping suspicious GoFundMe linked to Vancouver festival tragedy

May 1, 2025 | 1:09 PM

CHILLIWACK — A Chilliwack resident says she helped stop an online scam linked to the Filipino Lapu Lapu Day festival tragedy in Vancouver last Saturday that would have funnelled over $57,000 in online donations to fraudsters who have no connection to any victims.

Raquel Narraway, a local realtor, says she became suspicious about a GoFundMe that was initiated by a non-Filipino person to support a victim that no one in the Filipino community had any knowledge about.

The GoFundMe contained the headline, “Help Reyna who tragically passed from the Lapu Lapu event.”

Image: Raquel Narraway / The suspicious GoFundMe appeal.

However, something didn’t sit right with Narraway, who is Filipina herself.

ROAD CLOSURES

Section of Tyson Road, South Sumas Road to close overnight in Chilliwack

16h ago

PERIOD POVERTY

Demand for period products grows over 7 million in Fraser Valley, Lower Mainland

17h ago

Upcoming concerts in Agassiz, Chilliwack

Cheam Mountain Singers to hold concerts in Agassiz, Chilliwack

18h ago

“I posted if somebody knew Reyna. I posted it on a private Filipino group,” Narraway said. “Then when nobody knew her; I flagged the campaign at 1 or 2 a.m. on Tuesday, April 29. Then, the morning of April 29 at around 10 a.m., I posted my hunch on my Facebook. That’s when I confirmed that it’s a scam. That made the investigation of GoFundMe quicker. All donations are now refunded.”

Other red flags arose when the organizer of the GoFundMe was listed as Diana Bui, and the beneficiary was named as Huanfei Bai. Narraway says neither individual is Filipino. She said the people featured in the GoFundMe looked Vietnamese, not Filipino.

The alleged victim, Reyna Dela Peña, as well as the organizer and beneficiary, couldn’t be located on social media, Narraway said.

Narraway says no victim was identified as having the name of Reyna in major news outlets like CBC, CTV or the Vancouver Sun.

“Because of these suspicions, I reported the fundraising to GoFundMe and it is now currently paused,” Narraway said. “If proven [to be a] scam, I think the donations will be returned to donors or maybe donors have to apply a refund. I don’t really know the process. If I am wrong and this is legit, then they will continue the campaign and the organizer will be able to receive more funds.”

Narraway was featured by Global BC yesterday for her actions in stopping the suspicious GoFundMe.

“My intention is good and I wanted to make sure people will be mindful in making donations,” she said. “As a realtor, I always do my due diligence.”