What is The Feed Foundation?
The Feed Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; it aims at developing sustainable food systems around the world. It has a registered EIN of 41-2271492 and funds international grants to improve the distribution of food, nutrition, and agricultural resilience for susceptible regions. The nonprofit was founded in 2008 by Lauren Bush Lauren and has its New York City office. It closely partners with grantees such as Mary’s Meals and the International Rescue Committee.
Unfortunately, The Feed Foundation’s namesake also garnered the organization a fair share of controversy. The organization never solicits donations over the phone or sends unsolicited texts, so many received calls repeatedly claiming to be from “The Feed Foundation.” Such communications resulted in a storm of complaints and concern across the country. Such type of activity increases criminal law implications.
What is The Feed Foundation Scandal?
The Feed Foundation scandal implicates an extensive phone-and-text spam operation using the name of the nonprofit. Individuals across the country complained that they received these robocalls and spoofed texts from many different numbers, pretending to be the Feed Foundation. Most thought it was a scam or phishing attempt.
Our nonprofit quickly reacted to this development, claiming that engagements were made through tele-marketing and declared an open investigation with legal teams and cyber experts into this non-tele-marketing issue. The scandal turned towards exposure of scams, consumerism, and public trust loss recovery.
What Happened in The Feed Foundation Scandal?
The personal accounts indicate how significantly spam-driven fraud can impact lives, particularly when a well-recognized brand of charitable activities is involved. The victims even became helpless and fearful wondering what to do to stop the calls or even what was happening in real life. The manipulation and excessive occurrence of similar-sounding numbers made it harder to distinguish between truth and scam and caused the trust in legal organizations to thin down.
By early 2023, recipients began to lodge complaints of constant calls, sometimes dozens a day, made supposedly from The Feed Foundation. The scrawny texts containing weird messages were also sent to the users. All the calls turned out to be from spoofed numbers appearing local or related to The Feed Foundation. A Reddit user said:
“Calls twice and then texts and then a familiar line with ‘Hey it’s Eric!’”
“No way to find a number to call… at all.”
These reports highlight how scammers take advantage of a trusted brand to target a vulnerable audience and confuse them into answering or sharing their personal information.
Is The Feed Foundation Legit or a Scam?
While The Feed Foundation is involved in a scandal, it really is a valid charity, it just did not make those robocalls. CharityWatch confirmed that the calls were false and unauthorized. Here are the main points to know:
- The Feed Foundation does not make calls for donations.
- The nonprofit is presently working with legal and cybersecurity pros, the FBI, and telephony providers to tackle the scam.
Thus, while the spam calls use the nonprofit’s name, they do not reflect the organization’s actual operations. For more information about
Why Am I Getting Feed Foundation Calls?
You’re probably getting these robo-calls or texts because it only appears as if they’re from The Feed Foundation. It’s because fraudsters have gotten a hold of a search that boasts the ability to uplift a fake number into search engine data or even phone lookup service.
These numbers keep getting cycled making blocking it futile. By tricking victims into thinking that he/she is on the line with a legitimate charity, the person is going to seek donations or personal info. Just like what a reviewer said:
“They keep calling me from different phone numbers-impossible to block.”
Related: For more information about legal cases, go to court case news.
The Feed Foundation Text Messages
Scammers are not familiar with the calls but also seem to be moving towards those strange Feed Foundation text messages that most victims report receiving-ones that are either empty or read ‘Hey, it’s Eric!’. It is a mass-sent bait. These messages catch the recipient and try to draw them to either respond or click on a malicious link.
The types of responses are phishing or malware exposure. It is recommended to treat with skepticism unsolicited visits-since they are usually indicating no real link to the foundation. The point is to trigger any reaction even if it is by replying to confirm that your number is active.
Who’s Behind The Feed Foundation?
There is no single person or group that has been found for this scam, but it appears to originate from organized call centers doing lots of spoofing tools and random-number generators. Reviews talk about listening to foreign accents or finding silence after answering, making sure that the legitimacy facade is reinforced.
The real Feed Foundation has involved legal authorities and regulatory bodies. They are working with the FBI, FCC, and carriers to trace the call sources and stop the operations.
How to Report Spam Calls or Messages
If spam calls or texts arrive from “The Feed Foundation,” take action as follows:
- Block all numbers used, although they will most likely switch to new ones.
- Make a report to the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- File a complaint per the foundation’s advice at IC3.gov.
- Contact your phone company; they might assist with spam filtering.
- Notify elderly or other relatives who might be potential targets.
Good reporting leads to the detection of international spoofing rings, and closing down the criminals.
Public Reactions and Media Attention
The backlash has been swift; chat rooms and sites like Great Nonprofits are overrun with complaints, some reporting calls up to 15 times a day from spoof numbers claiming to be The Feed Foundation. Users expressed their frustration, claiming their calls were harassing and relentless.
CharityWatch and others rallied round to publicize the incident, noting, The legitimate staff of Feed Foundation does not make calls. Articles about the scandal have circulated in the media, drawing public attention to scams and offering a wide array of guidance to avoid them.
Key Takeaways
Feed Foundation is a legitimate nonprofit that is not responsible for any of these calls.
- The “scandal” is about the scammers spoofing their name and numbers.
- Using Blocking Tools and Reporting to the FCC/FTC/IC3.
- Alert the loved ones (especially the elderly) and follow reporting protocols.
It is not a crisis for the actual charity, but it is serious scamming that preys on the unknowing. Be alert and well informed, as well as safe.
