The Iowa Cancer Consortium, a statewide nonprofit dedicated to cancer research and patient support, issued a public warning on Saturday about a new phishing scheme targeting Iowa residents. Scammers are sending emails that falsely claim to be from a member of the Consortium’s Board of Directors and request monetary donations.

How the scam works

The deceptive messages are crafted to look official, often using the Consortium’s logo and a board member’s name. Recipients are asked to click a link or reply with credit‑card information to complete the “donation.” In reality, the link leads to a fraudulent website that captures personal and financial data.

Consortium’s response

In a statement, the Iowa Cancer Consortium emphasized that it “will never seek individual donations” via email. The organization clarified that all legitimate fundraising efforts are conducted through its verified website and official mailings. It also noted that no board member has authorized any such email outreach.

“We want to protect our supporters and the broader Iowa community from these malicious actors,” the statement read. “If you receive an email that appears to be from the Iowa Cancer Consortium and you are unsure of its authenticity, please contact us directly at the phone number or email listed on our official website before taking any action.”

What residents can do

To avoid falling victim to the scam, the Consortium recommends the following steps:

• Verify the sender’s email address. Official communications come from the domain @iowacancer.org.
• Do not click links or download attachments from unexpected messages.
• Never provide personal or financial information in response to an unsolicited email.
• Contact the Iowa Cancer Consortium directly using contact information from its official website if you have any doubts.

Residents are also encouraged to report phishing attempts to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and to forward suspicious emails to the Consortium’s security team at [email protected].

Why the warning matters

Phishing attacks have risen nationally, and nonprofit organizations are frequent targets because donors often trust these groups with personal data. By alerting the public early, the Iowa Cancer Consortium hopes to prevent financial loss and protect the privacy of Iowans who support cancer research and patient services.

The warning comes at a time when the Consortium is expanding its fundraising initiatives to fund new research grants and patient‑navigation programs across the state. Maintaining donor trust is essential to these efforts, and the organization says it will continue to monitor for fraudulent activity and keep the public informed.

Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.