TL;DR: Nonprofits get donations and grants from many sources, hiding fraud among them. Verify grant opportunities through the funder's official website, and confirm any change to payment instructions by phone with a known contact before transferring funds.
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Nonprofits get donations and grants from many sources, hiding fraud among them.
Common Tactics Used
Fake grant offers request an upfront 'processing fee,' and business email compromise impersonates an executive director to redirect a real donation or vendor payment.
How to Protect Against It
Verify grant opportunities through the funder's official website, and confirm any change to payment instructions by phone with a known contact before transferring funds.
What Family and Friends Can Do
Sudden secrecy about money, unusual withdrawals, or a new online relationship that stays undisclosed are all worth a calm, judgment-free conversation. The earlier a scam is caught, the more can usually be recovered.
If this looks similar to something else you've seen, it's worth reading Scams Targeting Online Daters Over 50.
This pattern shows up elsewhere too — see Scams Targeting People Going Through Divorce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are they specifically targeted?
Nonprofits get donations and grants from many sources, hiding fraud among them.
What tactics do scammers use?
Fake grant offers request an upfront 'processing fee,' and business email compromise impersonates an executive director to redirect a real donation or vendor payment.
How can they protect themselves?
Verify grant opportunities through the funder's official website, and confirm any change to payment instructions by phone with a known contact before transferring funds.
What should family or friends watch for?
Sudden secrecy about money or new online relationships, unusual withdrawals or wire transfers, and reluctance to discuss a new "opportunity" or contact in detail are all worth a gentle, non-judgmental conversation.
What should I do if I think this has already happened?
Stop all contact and payments immediately, report it to the appropriate authority, and contact the bank or payment provider involved to see what can be recovered.