Vodafone Australia warns recipients of an illegitimate email offering an ‘International World of Difference Grant’ of 2,000,000 euros not to respond and to simply delete the email.
The email scam - sent from a free, internet-based email account - asks recipients to respond with personal details. Vodafone Australia has contacted the Internet Service Provider host and the account has been terminated. However, Vodafone warns email users to be on the alert for similar scams because the perpetrators could attempt to replicate the scam under a new alias.
Head of the Vodafone Australia Foundation, Ramana James, explains that the fraudulent email has no
connection to The Vodafone Australia Foundation’s World of Difference program.
The email scam coincides with Vodafone Australia’s official call for entries to the 2008 World of Difference program, which open on Tuesday, 1 January. The World of Difference program, now in its fifth year, offers four Australians the opportunity to work for their nominated charity or not-for-profit organisation for 12 months - with their salaries and expenses covered by the Vodafone Australia Foundation.
All applicants will be required to submit their entries online via the official Vodafone Australia website at www.vodafone.com.au/worldofdifference. A judging panel will short-list candidates and commence interviews to determine four successful applicants, who will be announced in March 2008.
The Vodafone Australia Foundation will make a charitable grant to each of the four successful applicants’ nominated community organisations - and will not make payments directly to successful individual applicants. The grant, of up to $75,000, will cover their salary (up to $50,000) and expenses (up to $25,000). Each respective charity will then pay disbursements to the winners during the ensuing 12 months.
Media Contact:
Jessica Forrest, Vodafone Australia on 0419 933 920 or jessica.forrest@vodafone.com
About Vodafone Australia Foundation
The Vodafone Australia Foundation is a charitable trust funded by Vodafone Australia and Vodafone Group Foundation. In line with Vodafone’s core value of ‘passion for the world around us’, the foundation supports local charities and not-forprofit organisations. The Vodafone Australia Foundation also creates opportunities for Vodafone staff to contribute to the community, an initiative encouraged by Vodafone Australia.
About Vodafone
Vodafone is the world's leading international mobile telecommunications group with equity interests in 27 countries and 33 partners across 5 continents. The company provides quality services to 3.68 million Australian customers and has more than 200 million proportionate customers worldwide.