A $4,000 fraud attempt won’t stop us—here’s why your support matters more than ever.

Scammers Target SafeBAE During Our Season of Giving

At SafeBAE, the holiday season is one of the most important times of the year. It’s when we share the stories of the lives we’ve impacted, connect with our supporters, and work tirelessly to raise the funds that allow us to keep our programs free for students across the country. But this year, as we poured our energy into this critical time, SafeBAE became the target of a shocking scam attempt that serves as a reminder of both the challenges nonprofits face and the resilience we bring to overcome them.

Here’s what happened: We received what seemed like an incredible $4,000 donation in the mail, a moment that initially filled us with gratitude and hope. But that feeling quickly turned into disbelief and anger when the “donor” contacted us, claiming they had accidentally sent too much and asking for $2,000 back. Their goal? To trick us into sending them money before their fraudulent check bounced—a scam preying on the goodwill and urgency of organizations like ours.

It’s hard to put into words the frustration of encountering such malicious intent, especially when every dollar we raise is meant to protect and empower young people through consent education and sexual violence prevention. But this experience has also strengthened our resolve. It’s a reminder of why your support is so vital, and why SafeBAE is determined to rise above challenges like this and continue our mission.

Scammers Prey on Small Nonprofits

For small nonprofits like SafeBAE, scams like this are, unfortunately, all too common. Scammers know that grassroots organizations often run on tight budgets, with limited staff juggling countless responsibilities. They aim to exploit the very qualities that make nonprofits like ours so impactful: our dedication to every dollar raised and our urgency to respond to supporters.

When we received what looked like a $4,000 donation, our entire team was overjoyed. For an organization like ours, $4,000 is a huge amount—a game-changer for funding critical programs. It felt like validation of the long hours we’ve poured into sharing our mission and getting the word out. For a moment, it felt like our efforts were working, and we couldn’t help but celebrate.

But that joy quickly turned into heartbreak when the scam was revealed. This particular scam, where fake donors send fraudulent checks and request partial refunds, has become a well-known tactic used against organizations of all sizes. But it disproportionately impacts smaller nonprofits that rely on donations to operate. For scammers, it’s a numbers game—they assume that in the flurry of fundraising efforts, their fraudulent scheme might slip through the cracks.

The emotional toll of encountering these schemes is enormous. It’s heartbreaking to realize that someone is deliberately trying to exploit the goodwill and generosity that fuels our work. It’s frustrating to know that time and energy spent untangling these scams could have been directed toward supporting survivors or building our educational programs.

But this moment is also an opportunity to highlight the importance of vigilance and transparency in nonprofit work. At SafeBAE, we take every measure to ensure your contributions go exactly where they’re needed: to fund programs that empower students, educate communities, and prevent sexual violence.

 Calling Out the Scammer

While it’s tempting to move on and focus on the positive, we believe in transparency and accountability. That’s why we’re sharing the details of this scam—because people who try to exploit nonprofits deserve to be called out.

The scammer behind this attempt provided the name Gabriel Anderson of “5 Star Pawn LLC” and reached out using the phone number (214) 865-8974 and email address gabanderson7723@gmail.com. While it’s likely these details are false or linked to throwaway accounts, sharing them serves as a reminder to other organizations and donors to stay vigilant. Scammers count on people not speaking out, but by exposing their tactics, we can help protect other small nonprofits from falling into their trap.

What’s so infuriating about this scam is that it targets the very heart of what we do: turning community support into actionable change. When someone tries to siphon funds meant for survivors and education programs, they’re attacking more than just an organization—they’re attacking a mission to create safer communities.

At SafeBAE, we don’t just protect young people—we also protect every resource that goes into empowering them. And while we won’t let scams like this deter us, they are a stark reminder of the challenges we face as a grassroots nonprofit.

Turning Challenges Into Action

This scam attempt is a frustrating reminder of the challenges nonprofits face, but it also puts emphasis on why your support is so important. Every dollar SafeBAE receives goes directly toward empowering young people, providing critical education on consent and sexual violence prevention, and supporting survivors. Your contributions allow us to keep our programs free for students, parents, and teachers across the country.

While there will always be obstacles, we remain steadfast in our mission. Scammers may try to exploit us, but the overwhelming generosity and belief in our work from supporters like you fuel everything we do. Together, we can rise above these challenges and continue creating a safer future for everyone.

If you believe in our mission and want to stand with us against harm and exploitation—whether it’s online scammers or systemic issues—please consider donating today. Your contributions make a real difference and help us keep fighting for change.

Visit SafeBAE.org/donate to support us. Every dollar counts, and every donation reminds us why we’ll never stop doing this work.