Urgent Announcement - Purchasing Policy
Short Version
DO NOT PURCHASE GIFT CARDS OR SEND FUNDS REQUESTED BY EMAIL OR TEXT.
IF EVER IN DOUBT, REACH OUT!! ALWAYS CALL THE REQUESTOR TO VERIFY.
Fund Request Policy
The official policy of the Mississippi State Elks Association is that We NEVER Ask or Receive Funds via Unconfirmed Methods.
We wish to clarify that no representative of the Elks (local, state or national) will solicit or accept funds through email, text messages, or any other communications method that cannot be independently verified. This includes cash transfer apps such as Venmo, Cash App and PayPal.
If you ever encounter a request, even if it does not seem suspicious, verify by phone always. While we do charitable work, nothing we do is so urgent that you can't take a few minutes to call and verify.
No Request is Too Urgent to Verify
Regardless of how urgent the text or email may make the situation sound, nothing we do is so urgent that you can't take a few minutes to, or even hours to verify. If someone ever claims to be from the Elks and conveys an urgent need for funds, do not respond to the request and immediately notify your District Deputy, or State President.
Steps to Take to Protect yourself and your Lodge.
Do NOT respond or send funds: As most of you know, the Elks and our Lodges all have strict budgets and rules and regulations to follow concerning the spending of money. If you follow the rules, these scams will not work.
Contact Us Directly: Always use official channels to report or verify any request you receive.
Stay Informed: Familiarize yourself with common scams and phishing tactics to better protect yourself, your community and your Lodge.
Together, with vigilance and open communication, we can safeguard our community against potential threats. Your trust is our highest priority, and we're always here to support and guide you. If ever in doubt, reach out.
Learning More
Whether you're a Lodge officer interested in protecting and safeguarding your Lodge's finances, or a regular member who may be interested in protecting themselves, you are encouraged to learn about scams. Here are some links to help you learn more. Please share this information with fellow members, and Officers.
