Important note from AKC regarding scams
Kelly Curry
I’ve copied and pasted the below email sent from AKC Club relations this morning.
Dear Club Officers and Delegates,
Phishing attacks—whether by email or text message (also known as “smishing”)—continue to be a persistent threat. These fraudulent schemes are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often targeting individuals and clubs using common payment apps like Venmo and CashApp. We want to take a moment to remind you of the importance of staying vigilant and taking proactive steps to protect both yourself and your club.
Below are a few key tips to help safeguard against phishing attempts:
- Always verify the sender. If you do not recognize the email address or phone number, delete the message. If you receive a suspicious text, delete it and block the sender.
- Avoid clicking links or opening attachmentsin any message that seems suspicious. These can contain malware or viruses that compromise your device and data.
- Never share personal or financial information without first confirming the legitimacy of the request through a trusted source.
- Update your passwords regularly and use strong, unique combinations.
You can find a helpful visual guide on phishing prevention here, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers additional tips for staying protected here.
Please note, the AKC will never ask you to send money via gift cards or via a payment app (CashApp, Zelle, Venmo, etc).
In addition to safeguarding your personal information, it’s equally important to review and strengthen your club’s financial protocols. Now is an ideal time to assess your club’s internal processes and ensure best practices are in place. Below, we’ve included recommendations from major auditing firms, and what AKC believes to be the best practices to help protect your club’s financial health.
- Ensure that the club’s treasurer and the Board of Directors are insured against misappropriation of funds through a Crime Policy and Directors and Officers insurance or bondings.
- Establish a finance review committee of club members not involved in the treasurer’s duties.
- Consider investing excess funds in an interest-bearing account or certificate of deposit.
- Have the person responsible for approving invoices be different from the individual responsible for preparing and/or signing the checks. Similarly, it is desirable to have an individual reconciling the bank accounts who is different from the person preparing and /or signing the checks. Segregation of these tasks provides a more desirable level of internal control.
- Require a second authorized signer for all checks over a prescribed dollar amount, usually $250.
- Have contracts and agreements in writing. Require that all activity-related contracts over a certain amount (e.g. greater than $250) for club related items be in writing and not verbally understood.
- Publish the policies, practices, templates, and requirements to the club members and or on the club website or otherwise make them easily available.
- Maintain records. Clubs should maintain all required activity – application, approval, revenue, expenses, and net income statements – documentation in an organized fashion and for a set time period. Ideally, the club may choose to retain such items electronically, such as a secured file on Google Drive or another cloud service, accessible by all current club officers.
- Document the treasurer’s duties in writing, which should include, but not be limited to:
- Preparing a quarterly balance sheet and an income statement.
More in-depth information can be found in our‘Managing Club Finances’ document.
While we all wish we lived in a world where these risks didn’t exist, the reality is that proactive protection is essential. By putting strong, thoughtful practices in place—and maintaining them—you not only safeguard yourself and your club, but also ensure you can continue the important work you do on behalf of purebred dogs. Empowering your club with these measures means you're not just reacting to threats—you're leading with resilience and responsibility.
Sincerely,
Gina M. DiNardo
President and CEO
American Kennel Club
