Grant & fellowship scams (red flags)

Not legal advice. When in doubt, do not pay and verify the org independently.

Red flags

• “Guaranteed grant” for an upfront fee or “processing” payment
• PDF / WhatsApp “invitation” not listed on the foundation’s official site
• @gmail.com “program officer” for a well-known foundation
• Crypto wallet address to “unlock” funding
• Copy-paste of NLnet / Mozilla / EU logos with a random .com apply link

Safer habits

1. Type the URL yourself or use links from README.md only.
2. Cross-check NLnet, Mozilla Foundation, GitHub Security news posts.
3. Report phishing: foundation abuse contacts + your platform (GitHub, email provider).

General internship scams: oss-programs scams guide