The scenario started innocently enough. It always does.

Last year, Kate McClure and her boyfriend Mark D’Amico praised a homeless man who spent his last $20 to get McClure gas when she got stranded on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia in October 2017.

To show their appreciation, McClure and D’Amico created a GoFundMe account to raise funds for the homeless man, Johnny Bobbitt Jr.

The story went viral. What sensational generosity for a homeless, broke stranger to surrender his last 20 bucks for a stranded woman. Around 14,000 people donated to the campaign, giving more than $400,000.

Soon Bobbitt was living the good life — off the streets and into a clean hotel, eating well and mapping out a future with the first few thousand dollars collected for his benefit.

But last week, a New Jersey prosecutor called the feel-good story a complete fraud.

It all unraveled, Burlington County prosecutor Scott Coffina said, after Bobbitt sued McClure and D’Amico in August 2018 claiming he wasn’t getting all the money they raised on his behalf.

Now, all three are facing charges for allegedly concocting the fake story that led to a $400,000 profit.

“The entire campaign was predicated on a lie,” Coffina said. “It was fictitious and illegal, and there are consequences.”

McClure didn’t run out of gas and Bobbitt didn’t spot her in trouble and give her money, Coffina told The Associated Press.

Investigators said the three deliberately prevented donors from gaining information “that would affect their judgment about solicited contribution to that fundraising effort.”

Bobbitt, 35, was arrested Wednesday night by U.S. Marshals in Philadelphia and remained in custody on probation detainers and a $50,000 bond. D’Amico and McClure surrendered to authorities Wednesday night and were released.

In yet another twist, McClure now alleges the two men scammed her — and D’Amico is now her former boyfriend.

Since its beginning in 2010, GoFundMe has collected more than $5 billion from 55 million donors worldwide, according to the global charitable organization’s website. A large proportion of this funding is for expenses related to untimely funerals, medical emergencies, personal hardships and charitable campaigns.

While crowdfunding websites like GoFundMe have the potential to accomplish much good, it also has the potential to allow misconduct — and, in our opinion, seems to minimize the risks and consequences of abuse.

GoFundMe’s advice for preventing fraud on its platform is the following advice to donors: “Only donate to people you personally know and trust.” Think about that: Isn’t this another way of saying, stay away from crowdfunding? If you only donate to people you personally know and trust, that’s not really crowdfunding, is it?

It’s an ironic approach, but one we can endorse. If the account is for a funeral or medical bills for someone you actually knew, or know, then go ahead and contribute — keeping in mind that GoFundMe seeks a share of your donation to cover its expenses. Otherwise, look closer to home for your charitable giving. You’re much more likely to get the satisfaction of seeing the fruits of your generosity at work.