JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — For nearly 40 years, Safe Harbor Academy has helped teenagers with behavioral problems.
They are taught how to cope with the challenges of life, and during the process, they learn the inner workings of boating and the nautical world.
On Wednesday, the nonprofit learned its name was being used to perpetrate a scam.
"We received a call from a potential donor and she was questioning the way by which we were asking for money," said Robbie Smith.
Smith is the founder of the boys home.
"I was horrified," she said. "It was email, it seems to strictly email."
She learned someone is sending out emails soliciting donations in her organization's name.
"It contains a sob story that the kids are in need," said Smith. "These children in a boarding school that did not have toiletries, that did not have food."
The email ends with a simple request: "can you send money to me?"
Nine boys are currently in the program and there is no need for toiletries or food.
Smith said Safe Harbor does not send unsolicited emails to individuals for donations.
"We send newsletters via email but we never contact a donor individually," she said. "If we are going to do that we will pick up the phone and have a personal conversation."
In this case, the email was sent to a woman in Ohio who wants to remain anonymous.
After reading the appeal for the kids in Florida, she was ready to donate $500 to the effort.
But she was instructed to send the money to a bank in Pennsylvania; the kids are not in Pa. and neither is Safe Harbor. She told Smith that's when she decided to call Safe Harbor.
"We understand that it is pretty widespread," said Smith. "Nationwide, from the police officer that came yesterday."
She filed a complaint with JSO Economic Crime Unit. She doesn't know how many may have fallen victim to the scheme, but she is now alerting her community of donors.
There is a very simple takeaway here, if you receive an unsolicited request for money, even if it is from a well known nonprofit, do your homework first before you give.