08/22/2026
💥Help Us Recover From a Blindsiding Loss💥
We have something difficult to share with our MidAtlantic Horse Rescue community, and we’re asking for your help.
Recently, our organization became the victim of a sophisticated financial scam resulting in the loss of $22,679.21
One of our long time trusted vendors had their computer compromised. The individuals responsible were able to use spoofed email addresses, creating fraudulent invoices from this vendor that looked legitimate. They included fake emails that gave approval for payment. Two ACH payments were then processed by our previous bookkeeper without her realizing that this was a sophisticated cyber scam.
By the time the situation was discovered, the funds had already been transferred and sent overseas. We immediately reported the incident to the appropriate authorities, including the FBI, FCC, and state police, and worked with the banks involved to try to recover the money. Unfortunately, after 7 weeks and countless hours spent exhausting those avenues, we have been told that the funds are not recoverable. In order to prevent this from happening again, we have hired a new bookkeeper who attends monthly continuing education sessions about the latest cyber scams and who does not pay any invoices without verbal approval.
For a nonprofit like ours, $22,679.21 is a significant loss. That is money we use to provide feed, veterinary care, farrier services, rehabilitation, and everything else necessary to care for the horses who depend on us.
The need for those funds has not diminished.
In recent months, we have taken in horses from difficult circumstances, including a group of eight thoroughbreds rescued from a Louisiana auction lot as well as three neglected cases from West Virginia. These rescued horses still need the same care, regardless of the unexpected financial setback our organization has experienced. Our horses are the true ones victimized here.
We debated whether to share this publicly, but ultimately decided that transparency with our supporters is important. Rather than allowing this loss to impact the horses in our care, we are asking our community to help us recover a portion of what was lost.
If you are able to make a donation, no matter the amount, it will go directly toward the ongoing care of our horses and help us keep moving forward with our mission of providing Thoroughbred aftercare.
If you aren’t able to donate, sharing this fundraiser is just as valuable. Every share helps us reach someone who may be able to help.
We are incredibly grateful for the people who continue to stand behind these horses and the work of MidAtlantic Horse Rescue. We have faced difficult situations before, and with the support of our community, we will continue on and prevail, for the horses who need us.
Because we are a fully accredited 501c3 non profit organization, your donations are fully tax deductible to the extent of the law. Thank you for helping us turn an unfortunate loss into an opportunity to keep making a difference.
Check out the ways to help support us 👇
📬 Mail a check to:
MidAtlantic Horse Rescue
P.O. Box 407
Chesapeake City, MD 21915
💚 Venmo:
🌐 Website: https://midatlantichorserescue.org/how-to-help/
💙 PayPal:
