LEGALAUDIT

Scam Watch

How can you recognize Fake Horizon Europe grant — researchers tricked into wiring 'matching funds'?

TLDR

Researchers and SMEs receive an email claiming their 'Horizon Europe proposal' has been pre approved for EUR 500K 3M, conditional on wiring 'matching funds' or 'administrative deposit' (EUR 3,500 25,000) within 7 days. Real Horizon grants...

How it works

Researchers and SMEs receive an email claiming their 'Horizon Europe proposal' has been pre approved for EUR 500K 3M, conditional on wiring 'matching funds' or 'administrative deposit' (EUR 3,500 25,000) within 7 days. Real Horizon grants...

Red flags

  • Urgent pressure to click, pay, or share codes immediately.
  • A link or sender that does not match the official organization.
  • Requests for card data, passwords, OTPs, wallet signatures, or bank transfers.

What to do

  1. 1Real Horizon grants never require such advance payments.
  2. 2Indicators: 1) unsolicited grant 'pre approval' without prior application; 2) sender domain not ec.europa.eu; 3) fee in advance for grant; 4) bank account in non EU jurisdiction.
  3. 3WHAT TO DO: verify directly via the Funding & Tenders Portal (ec.europa.eu/info/funding tenders/opportunities).

Source

European-Commission-DG-CNECT

Source reviewed by Mythos Forensic Team

https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/horizon-europe_en

FAQ

Is Fake Horizon Europe grant — researchers tricked into wiring 'matching funds' a real scam pattern?

Yes. Treat the message, call, or payment request as suspicious until you verify it through an official channel.

What are the first warning signs?

Urgent pressure to click, pay, or share codes immediately.; A link or sender that does not match the official organization.; Requests for card data, passwords, OTPs, wallet signatures, or bank transfers.

What should I do first?

Real Horizon grants never require such advance payments.; Indicators: 1) unsolicited grant 'pre approval' without prior application; 2) sender domain not ec.europa.eu; 3) fee in advance for grant; 4) bank account in non EU jurisdiction.; WHAT TO DO: verify directly via the Funding & Tenders Portal (ec.europa.eu/info/funding tenders/opportunities).

Can LegalAudit check my case?

Yes. Start a free chat and paste the message, link, sender, or payment details for triage.