The Finance Commission of Texas (Commission) has become aware of fraudulent emails that have the appearance of being sent from Executive Director Charles G. Cooper on behalf of the Commission. The email purports to be in connection with the release of funds from a charity trust fund. The correspondence suggests that upon receiving endorsed and stamped documents called “Fund Release Documents”, along with a specified amount of money for processing, the funds will be remitted.

The Commission does not initiate contact with the public for payment related to the release of monies. Additionally, the Commission is not involved with the disbursement of funds from any type of banking, trust, or similar account.

The series of emails are FRAUDULENT and are considered a phishing scam. Phishing is a scam typically carried out through unsolicited email and/or websites that pose as legitimate sites and lure unsuspecting victims to provide personal and financial information. Recipients should consider these types emails as an attempt to collect personal or confidential information and to fraudulently obtain funds.

Consumers are encouraged to review correspondence carefully to ensure they are familiar with the sender. Recipients of this email should notify the Office of the Attorney General of Texas, Consumer Protection Division at 800-252-8011.