August 26, 2010

Important Notice on Email Scams

For more information, send email to info@gatesfoundation.org.

Several scams claiming to be from or associated with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are currently circulating on the internet in a number of different languages. They often include our logo, photos, links, or other information taken directly from our official web site, www.gatesfoundation.org. The foundation makes every effort to stop such scams, but unfortunately, we cannot stop them all. The foundation does not solicit donations or request any type of administrative or handling charges for its grant applications. If you get a request that appears to be from the foundation for any type of payment, or if you receive an email or communication seemingly from the foundation that you feel is suspicious, please disregard that communication. If you have any questions, contact us at info@gatesfoundation.org.

To be clear, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, or any foundation employees:

Do not sponsor lotteries of any kind.
Do not require/request grantees to pay insurance, handling, deposits, or delivery fees for grant funds.
Do not offer investment opportunities.
Do not request conference fees.

Agnes Heinz, Sir Anthony Taylor, and Isabelle Chevalier are not foundation employees or representatives, and the email address secretariat@bill-melindagatesfoundation.org is not a foundation address. These individuals and any associated emails, web sites, accompanying materials, and claims are in no way associated with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, or any foundation employees. Scammers have become creative and have also started using the names of actual foundation employees, and we recommend caution if contacted through a non-foundation address.

Here are some tips to help you avoid email scams:

Be suspicious of unsolicited emails that ask for personal or financial information.
Avoid filling out forms in email messages.
Log on to official websites instead of clicking on links embedded in an email.
Contact the organization that is supposedly sending the email to verify if it is genuine.
Be wary if you receive an email saying you won a lottery or have been awarded a grant.
Be cautious if you are asked to wire money.

For more information about the Federal Trade Commission's efforts against these kinds of fraud, please visit http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/tech/scams.shtm. You can also email your inquiries about scam emails, letters, and phone calls to info@gatesfoundation.org.

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Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.