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Disentangling Crowdfunding from Fraudfunding

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  • Karami, Moein
  • Cumming, Douglas
  • Hornuf, Lars
  • Schweizer, Denis

Abstract

Using Kickstarter and Indiegogo, the two largest crowdfunding platforms, we conduct an exhaustive search of all fraud cases from 2010 through 2015. We present evidence that fraudsters in crowdfunding markets have specific characteristics: they are less likely to have engaged in prior crowdfunding activities, they are less likely to have a social media presence, and they are more likely to provide poorly worded and confusing campaign pitches.

Suggested Citation

  • Karami, Moein & Cumming, Douglas & Hornuf, Lars & Schweizer, Denis, 2017. "Disentangling Crowdfunding from Fraudfunding," VfS Annual Conference 2017 (Vienna): Alternative Structures for Money and Banking 168120, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:vfsc17:168120
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    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Xiao & Huang, Bihong & Shaban, Mohamed, 2022. "Naïve or sophisticated? Information disclosure and investment decisions in peer to peer lending," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    2. Junhui Xu & Jitka Hilliard & James R. Barth, 2020. "On Education Level and Terms in Obtaining P2P Funding: New Evidence from China," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 20(4), pages 801-826, December.
    3. Ye Liu & Ke Zhang & Weili Xue & Ziyu Zhou, 2024. "Crowdfunding innovative but risky new ventures: the importance of less ambiguous tone," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 10(1), pages 1-43, December.
    4. Jermain Kaminski & Christian Hopp & Christian Lukas, 2018. "Who benefits from the wisdom of the crowd in crowdfunding? Assessing the benefits of user-generated and mass personal electronic word of mouth in computer-mediated financing," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 88(9), pages 1133-1162, December.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • K22 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Business and Securities Law
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship

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