A sharp-eyed accountant at the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia stopped a nearly $50,000 scam in its tracks—proving that vigilance is one of the best defenses against fraud.
According to Athens-Clarke County police, the food bank received a suspicious invoice on July 18 from a supposed executive coaching firm. The bill totaled $49,955 and included a W-9 form listing a business address in Leander, Texas. But when the accountant cross-checked the service with staff, no one had ever heard of the company, nor had they received any coaching services.
A quick online search revealed that the listed address belonged to a completely different business, raising additional concerns. The accountant reported the incident to police, who are now investigating what appears to be a fraudulent billing scheme using real business identities to trick nonprofits into paying fake invoices.
This case highlights a growing trend: scammers targeting charitable organizations with phony vendor invoices, hoping busy staff will approve payments without verification.
While this scam was thwarted, another Athens resident wasn’t so lucky. A 67-year-old woman lost $7,000 after calling a fake Norton antivirus support number and being pressured into sending Bitcoin payments to a scammer who claimed to have “accidentally refunded” her account.
These incidents serve as a reminder: verify before you pay, especially when dealing with unfamiliar vendors or unsolicited tech support calls.
Based on reporting by: Online Athens.