08/22/2026
Fraud alert: counterfeit checks using the Detroit Lake Foundation name
Counterfeit checks bearing the Detroit Lake Foundation name are circulating outside Oregon. If you receive one, do not deposit it.
The people behind this ask recipients to deposit the check and then send part of the money back, often by wire transfer or cryptocurrency purchase. The check will eventually bounce, sometimes weeks later, and the person who deposited it is left owing their bank the full amount.
Please know:
The Detroit Lake Foundation does not send unsolicited checks to people who have not requested payment from us.
We will never ask anyone to deposit a check and send money back.
We will never ask anyone to buy cryptocurrency or gift cards, or to wire funds, for any reason.
If you have received a check like this, do not deposit it. Keep the check and the envelope, save any texts or emails you received, and file a report at ic3.gov. If it came by mail, you can also report it to the United States Postal Inspection Service.
If you have questions, contact us [email protected] or call our VP, Elizabeth Smith at 503-910-0415.
Please share this post. The best protection is that people recognize it before they walk into a bank.
