Reports of Phishing Scams
We are receiving reports of phishing scam emails and text messages that claim to be from The Lawrence Foundation. Please ignore these emails and text messages. These scammers use publicly available information and purport to be from various people associated with the foundation. We never:
Make grants to individuals.
Solicit personal information from individuals through letters or other communications or ask you to download files or other attachments in emails or text messages.
Request administrative fees for awarding a grant.
Host internet lotteries or offer prizes of any kind through e-mail, postal mail, telephone, fax, or in person.
Request registration fees for conferences or summits.
Request information about bank accounts or other private information.
Have memberships or request fees for memberships.
Approach individuals in person offering grant opportunities.
Solicit donations at any time.
Offer investment opportunities.
Please be careful with your information. If you have received one of these scam communications, you may also report it to the Federal Trade Commission or the FBI.
For your reference, here are few of the emails we have been receiving asking about contacts that people have been receiving. None of the contacts below are legitimate and they are all scams.
“I received the following email: New Beginnings Church Benevolence Department is pleased to inform you that THE LAWRENCE FAMILY FOUNDATION has approved your request for benevolence funds. We are currently scheduling the appointment with your agent, full details on it will be communicated to you soon. THANK YOU & GOD BLESS! Note: This email is attached with a copy of your LFF Grant Pre-approval Letter. Is this email legitimate?”
“I was on the phone tonight texting back and forth with a lady named Mary Johnson, she said she represented your family grants, asked me for my Facebook password, cash app numbers. Does she work for you, she has all my info at this time? Thank you.”
“Please call me at 555-5555. I need to talk to you about this website that this person that has a website using your foundation to sell shih tzu puppies. I got frauded by her and I have more info about what she is doing under foundation's name.”
“Someone contacted about receiving funds from this organization? From Bill Lawrence, please contact ASAP about this matter.”
“I received an email saying I was selected to receive a $150,000 grant is this true or a scam of some sort?”
“I got am email from you that says I am one of a group of people that you will help with a donation of 150,000 us dollars. Is this true or false?”
“Greetings... recently I received an email that supposedly comes from your foundation saying that my nonprofit has received a Grant. I'm questioning the validity of that email. thank you.”
“I received an email on behalf of Lawrence Foundation and I was trying to see is this a legit email or a scam email in desperate need of assistance financially trying to get my safe house established and started and the memory of my mother who was murdered last year. If you don't mind, could you please respond in a timely manner thank you.”
“Buenas Tardes! We write to you from the Dominican Republic. We received a message that tells us that we have been selected for a grant of US $ 150,000.00 and that we will contact you to process the delivery of the money.”
“I have been approached by someone representing your foundation wanting to give personal grants, but needs 4% of the grant amount as a fee to send the money. Is this legitimate or some scam?”
“Someone from Facebook contacted me. They said I can get a grant but I don't think it is a legit. They message me in messenger asking for information "Hi, my name is agent Mary Johnson the agent in charge of the Lawrence foundational program. Thank you for contacting us and how can we assist you pertaining this ongoing program?"
“I was receiving messages from a woman claiming to be affiliated with this foundation. Her name is Mary Johnson on Facebook. If you can confirm this information with me, that would be great. Thank you.”
“Hello, I am talking with someone who claims to be a part of your organization and I don’t know how this all works but I’m using an app called what’s app to keep in contact with them and they said if I send them money through western union they send me the money I was just winding if that is how you guys operate (I filled out everything on the what’s app app they told me to download I just want to make sure this is all 100 percent how you operate because I guess I just don’t want this to be a scam please feel free to call me it’s a Canada number 555-5555 so I can better explain and understand what you do and offer.”
“Hi I received an email from testing@maxwireless.net and lawrencefoundationgrants@citromail.hu stating I had be chosen to receive a grant please contact me back in regards to this email weather it is authentic or not. Thank you.”
“I just got a private message from someone claims to be my friend on Facebook but I don't recognize her name telling me about your foundation and that she received $40,000 at her doorstep from your foundation and that I should apply for a grant because I am having some difficult times I don't know if this is real or if it is a scam and I am afraid to do anything where I will get scammed.”