Phishing scams continue to pose significant threats to non-profit organizations, with recent incidents highlighting the evolving tactics of cybercriminals. For instance, in 2024, a sophisticated scam involved fraudulent donors sending counterfeit checks to non-profits, followed by requests to return a portion of the funds before the organizations realized the checks were bogus. ​

Protective Measures for Non-Profits

To safeguard against such scams, non-profits should implement the following strategies:

1. Employee Training: Regularly educate staff and volunteers on identifying phishing attempts, such as recognizing suspicious emails and avoiding clicking on unknown links or attachments.​
2. Robust Security Protocols: Implement strong, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security.​
3. Email Filtering Solutions: Utilize advanced email filtering tools to detect and block potential phishing emails before they reach the inbox.​
4. Regular Software Updates: Keep all systems and software up to date to protect against known vulnerabilities that cybercriminals might exploit.​
5. Data Encryption: Encrypt sensitive data both in transit and at rest to ensure that even if intercepted, the information remains inaccessible to unauthorized parties.​
6. Incident Response Plan: Develop and maintain a clear plan for responding to phishing incidents, including steps for containment, communication, and recovery.​

By proactively implementing these measures, non-profit organizations can significantly reduce their vulnerability to phishing scams, thereby protecting their mission and the communities they serve.