Educational Scenario: This is a fictional case study created for educational purposes. Business details are not real, but the attack methods and impacts represent documented cybersecurity threats.
Nonprofit Donor Identity Harvesting
Attackers spoofed a children's charity domain to collect donor SSNs and financial information through fake tax receipt requests.
Fake Tax Receipt Campaign
October 10, 2024Criminals sent emails appearing from the charity requesting donors 'verify their information' for corrected tax receipts
Identity Collection
October 18, 2024Donors began submitting SSNs, addresses, and financial information through fake charity website
Donor Complaints
October 30, 2024Multiple donors called asking about duplicate tax receipt requests and confusing verification processes
Identity Theft Reports
November 5, 2024First reports of donors experiencing identity theft and fraudulent credit applications
Full Impact Assessment
November 20, 2024Investigation revealed 185 donors had provided complete identity information to criminals
Potential Impact Analysis
$65,000 in donor notification costs, credit monitoring services, legal fees, and lost donations
6 weeks of crisis management, complete overhaul of donor communication systems, volunteer retraining
30% donor loss, negative media coverage, damage to community standing and fundraising ability
State attorney general investigation, potential donor lawsuits, IRS scrutiny of tax receipt processes
Attack Method
Charity domain spoofing to harvest donor identity information through fake tax receipt verification
Common Vulnerabilities
- No DMARC policy protecting nonprofit domain
- Donors trusted charity communications without verification
- No secure donor portal for tax receipt distribution
- Similar domain registered by criminals not detected
Types of Data at Risk
- Donor Social Security numbers
- Home addresses and phone numbers
- Donation history and amounts
- Bank account and credit card information
- Employment and income information
- Nonprofit donors are particularly trusting of charity communications
- Tax receipt season creates opportunities for credential harvesting
- Small nonprofits often lack cybersecurity resources
- Identity theft can devastate both donors and charitable missions
- Implement DMARC email authentication for nonprofit domain
- Never request donor SSNs or financial information via email
- Use secure donor portals for all tax receipt distribution
- Regular donor education about legitimate communication methods
- Monitor for similar domain registrations
The nonprofit lost nearly one-third of its donor base and had to significantly reduce programs due to funding shortfalls. They implemented new cybersecurity measures but struggled with the costs. The incident led to increased awareness about cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the nonprofit sector.
Protect Your Business from These Threats
This scenario shows how these attacks can be prevented with proper email security measures. Get a free scan to see if your business is vulnerable.