Freemasons' grant email is a scam
Howard Lake | 16 July 2005 | News
An email from “The Freemason society of Bournemouth” offering charities a grant of £950,000 is a variation on the “419 (Advance Fee)” scam and should not be responded to.
The email message purports to come from a Mr Paul kincaid (sic), of the “PRO Freemason Society of Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth”.
Its subject line is “MASON 2005 GRANT(URGENT RESPONSE REQUIRED)”.
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The message itself reads: “The Freemason society of Bournemouth under the jurisdiction of the all Seeing Eye, Master Nicholas Brenner has after series of secret deliberations selected you to be a beneficiary of our 2005 foundation laying grants and also an optional opening at the round table of the Freemason society.
“These grants are issued every year around the world in accordance with the objective of the Freemasons as stated by Thomas Paine in 1810 which is to ensure the continuous freedom of man and to enhance mans living conditions.
“We will also advice that these funds which amount to GB£950,000.00 be used to better the lot of man through your own initiative and also we will go further to inform that the open slot to become a Freemason is optional, you can decline the offer.
“In order to claim your grant, contact the Grand Lodge Office secretary David P. Owen.
“Email: ow*******@**il.com
“Paul kincaid,
“PRO Freemason Society of Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth.”
If you respond to this message it is quite likely that you will receive demands for money before the “grant” can be released.
According to anti-spam campaigner Joe Wein, the message “arrived from an IP address in Nigeria that’s been the source of several other 419 scams before.”
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.