Skip to content

Safety

Important Reminders and Steps to Stay Safe

At Point of Pride, protecting your personal information and ensuring your security is a top priority. Unfortunately, scammers have targeted some of our members. To help you stay informed and secure, we’ve compiled important reminders and actionable steps to protect you.

 

1. We will never ask for sensitive information.

Point of Pride will never ask you for your banking information, account/routing numbers, PINs, or other extremely sensitive identity or financial details.

Point of Pride will never request your SSN via email. In the rare event we require this information for tax purposes, it will only be requested via an official IRS Form W-9 and after you’ve signed a financial aid recipient agreement with us. (To date, only 1 of our 1,200+ financial aid recipients has needed to complete this form.)

2. We will never ask you to send us money.

Point of Pride will never require you to send money to us. In the event that your award package requires some financial responsibility on your part, which is common, you will be required to pay it directly to your care provider, not to Point of Pride. 

3. We do not perform or provide medical care directly.

Point of Pride does not employ or contract with surgeons, physicians, electrologists, nurses, or mental health professionals. We provide financial support by paying licensed, reputable service providers. We do not perform surgeries, prescribe HRT, or offer any medical or mental health services ourselves.

4. Official communication only comes @pointofpride.org.

All emails from Point of Pride will come from an “@pointofpride.org” email address. We will never contact you from Gmail or other personal domains. If we are unable to reach you via email, we may occasionally call or text. Calls and texts from Point of Pride will come from a number ending in 8172 or 1009.

If you ever have concerns about the legitimacy of a communication:

  • Let the person you’re speaking with know you are verifying their request.
  • Contact us via our secure contact form to confirm the communication is legitimate before sharing any personal information.
  • Check our website for an up-to-date list of employees and volunteers to ensure you’re communicating with a verified Point of Pride team member.

 


What To Do If You Believe You’ve Been Scammed

If you suspect that you’ve been targeted by a scammer impersonating Point of Pride, please follow these steps:

  1. Stop all communication: Do not respond to any further messages, emails, or phone calls.
  2. Report the scam. Flag the email or text message as junk/spam. Consider filing a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
  3. Protect your info.
    • If you shared your SSN, visit identitytheft.gov for next steps, including placing a fraud alert on your credit file. You can lock your SSN using the Social Security Administration's Self Lock feature as well as freeze your credit reports with the major bureaus to prevent scammers from opening accounts in your name.
    • If you shared financial information, contact your bank or credit card company immediately to report potential fraud and freeze your account if necessary.
  4. Contact us. Your report helps us take action to report fraud and protect others in our community.
  5. Monitor your accounts. Keep a close eye on your financial accounts and credit reports. Consider setting up fraud alerts or credit monitoring services for added security.

We deeply regret any harm or distress caused by scammers and remain committed to protecting our community. Together, we can stay informed, vigilant, and safe.

Last Updated: January 2025