Several scam emails claiming to be from or associated with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are circulating on the Internet in many languages. They often include our logo, photos, links, or other information from our Web site.

Recent emails use a foundation award announcement about Australia’s Northern Territory Library to link recipients to an infected Web site. Some emails claim the recipient has won a lottery or other prize and request detailed personal information or a payment of some kind in order to receive the winnings. Others claim the recipient has been invited to a conference or summit hosted by the foundation and request a registration fee or other expenses to attend. Web sites that promise large returns on investments and claim a portion of returns will be donated to the foundation are another form or fraud. 

These emails, Web sites, and accompanying materials and claims are in no way associated with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, or any foundation employees. The foundation does not and will not solicit donations of any kind. We  recommend not responding to emails making such claims.

 For more information about the Federal Trade Commission's efforts against these kinds of fraud, please visit www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/spam/report.html. You can also email your inquiries about scam email, letters, and phone calls to info@gatesfoundation.org.

Updated August 7, 2007

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Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, the foundation is led by CEO Patty Stonesifer and co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.