Dear Madam,

Dear Sir,

I am writing to alert you to a scam being conducted under the name of UNESCO. For the last few months, an organization calling itself “ITI UNESCO Centro Espanol” has been targeting Aboriginal groups across Canada and the United States. The organization claims:

… to provide grants to Federally Recognized Indian Tribes that will use the proceeds for projects falling under the categories of Economic Development, Humanitarian / Social Initiatives, and Infrastructure. Our grant is non-recourse, and there is absolutely no cost involved on behalf of any tribe.

While I can confirm that this in a scam, UNESCO Legal Affairs (LA) has said that, unfortunately, there is little we can do to stop these scam artists. UNESCO is currently developing an advisory to be placed on their website. In the meantime, I encourage you to exercise caution if you are contacted by anyone claiming to be offering funds associated with UNESCO. Additionally, please circulate this alert to your networks.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at 1.800.263.5588, ext. 4532.

Sincerely,

Alysouk Lynhiavu

Public Affairs Officer / Chargé des Affaires publiques

Coordinator, National Secretariat, UNESCO Associated Schools Network /

Coordonnateur, Secrétariat national du Réseau des écoles associées de l'UNESCO

Canadian Commission for UNESCO / Commission canadienne pour l'UNESCO

350, rue Albert Street, C.P. / P.O. 1047

Ottawa, Ontario  K1P 5V8

Tel. 613.566.4414, ext. / poste 4532

Toll Free / Sans frais 1.800.263.5588, ext. / poste 4532

Fax. 1.613.566.4405

www.unesco.ca

www.facebook.com/alysouk.lynhiavu

L'UNESCO est l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'éducation, la science et la culture /

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

www.unesco.org