MacKenzie Scott Gave Away Billions. The Scam Artists Followed.
The New York Times
She has no large foundation, headquarters or public website. That makes it easier to dispense money on her own terms — and for others to prey on the vulnerable in her name.
Danielle Churchill needed help. She was raising five children in Wollongong, on the Australian coast south of Sydney, and had to cover thousands of dollars in special therapy fees for her 10-year-old son, Lachlan, who has autism. She tried crowdfunding on the site GoFundMe, but raised just a tiny fraction of what she had hoped for. Late last year, she received the message that seemed to solve her financial problems. It was purportedly an email from the billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, a novelist best known as the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder, saying that she was giving away half her fortune and that Ms. Churchill had qualified for a grant. Ms. Churchill searched Google for Ms. Scott’s name and the word “scam.” Instead of warnings, she found numerous news articles describing how Ms. Scott’s representatives had emailed hundreds of nonprofit groups out of the blue with offers of monetary support.
Donald J. Trump has embraced tabloids, reality TV, Twitter and cable news. This year, he moved on to podcasts and online streamers.
Donald J. Trump spent his first presidency on a collision course with America’s central bank. Will it intensify?
A little-known investment banker, a former hedge fund star and an acolyte of George Soros have the president-elect’s ear.
The U.S. presidential election result has ensured a sharp turn in economic policy expected to upend global commerce and diverge from decades of American norms.
Angel Sivado tries to move people from the streets to permanent housing. A new law makes helping her clients more of a challenge.
About 33,000 workers at the aerospace manufacturer had been on strike for nearly two months, having rejected two earlier contract offers.
Right-wing groups, which use Telegram to organize real-world actions, are urging followers to watch the polls and stand up for their rights, in a harbinger of potential chaos.
The billionaire has effectively become the star of his social media platform, transforming X into a reflection of his personal views before the election.
Many rural Americans engage in cashless barter systems to get food and firewood for heating and cooking. They value self-sufficiency, making them wary of government intervention.
Employers added 12,000 jobs in October, with hiring hit by strikes and storms. The unemployment rate was steady, at 4.1 percent, in the last major report before an election in which the economy is a top issue for voters.
To prepare for ever-longer shopping season, thousands of employees were assembled for a retail jamboree in Florida’s August heat.