Montana’s nonprofits, reliant on donations for their operations and growth, have recently fallen prey to a series of scams aiming to siphon tens of thousands of dollars from their coffers. Cassidy Cook, the director of development and communications at the Lewis and Clark Humane Society, recounted the experience of being targeted by a scammer posing as a generous donor named “Alphanso Blye.” This fraudulent scheme has affected at least 25 nonprofits in Montana, according to reports from the Montana Nonprofit Association, although the actual number of victims is believed to be higher.
The modus operandi of the scam is straightforward: the scammer sends a seemingly genuine cashier’s check, usually of a substantial amount. Subsequently, they claim a mistake and request a portion of the funds to be returned. However, the initial check is counterfeit, unbeknownst to the targeted nonprofits. Due to the typical 30-day processing time for checks by banks, the nonprofits are deceived into returning the money before realizing the scam.
The emotional toll of such deception is significant, as Kate Arpin from the Montana Nonprofit Association empathetically expressed. Discovering that what seemed like a windfall for organizational advancement was, in fact, a deceitful ploy, is heartbreaking for these nonprofits. Cook from the Lewis and Clark Humane Society reflected on the initial excitement followed by the crushing disappointment within a short timeframe.
While no nonprofits have fallen victim to the scam as per the Department of Justice, it underscores the importance of prevention and awareness. Jake Griffith, supervising attorney for The Office of Consumer Protection, stressed the necessity of verifying the authenticity of checks before assuming they have cleared. In response to the threat, the Montana Nonprofit Association has taken proactive measures, including issuing alerts to all banks in the state to be vigilant against cashing checks from the scammers’ alias.
To combat such scams, reporting mechanisms have been established, both through the Montana Nonprofit Association and the Department of Justice. Vigilance, caution, and swift action are crucial in protecting Montana’s nonprofits from falling victim to these fraudulent schemes.
By: Digital News Updates staff