The Conversation today took its mission a step further

Dear Reader,

Today we published our first investigative article, “Heists Worth Billions,” in which we uncovered how criminal gangs use sham bank accounts and secret online marketplaces to steal from almost anyone – and showed that little is being done by banks and the government to combat the fraud. The piece was written by our investigations editor (and New York Times bestselling author) Kurt Eichenwald and Georgia State University professor David Maimon.

Our mission has always been to bring you quality journalism. For almost 10 years, The Conversation has proudly brought you knowledge, analysis and research from over 10,000 academic experts at hundreds of universities. These daily stories are critical to the public’s understanding of the world we live in today.

This is expensive and time-consuming work. The story published today took over four months to produce. But I believe it is a natural and urgently-needed extension of The Conversation’s work to inform the public about knowledge uncovered in universities that is critical to solving societal issues. 

This isn’t meant to be sensational; it is meant to help find answers that people are looking for – and point at solutions. For example, today's investigative piece is probably the first time that thousands of innocent people learned how and why they were robbed of their income and savings. In its first day, the article has been read more than a half-million times.

I do hope you will support this work. You’ll be investing in our future to bring different and important stories to the public and those who can help force change for the better.

Please join us. 

We look forward to bringing you more such journalism – fascinating, timely and useful – and appreciate that you are making it possible for us to do so.

Thank you,
Beth Daley

Executive Editor and General Manager
The Conversation U.S.

P.S. Our fundraising drive ends on June 30. If you can make a donation at any level you’re comfortable with, it will go a long way toward enabling journalism you can trust. Every donor will receive two free e-books: one with our most insightful articles explaining generative AI, like ChatGPT, and another looking at climate solutions being worked on by some of the smartest scientists and engineers in the nation.

If you make a recurring donation of $20 per month (or more), we will thank you with a tote bag. And every gift of $1,000 or more will be thanked with a set of two of our newly minted, first-edition books.

How to donate:

By credit card: https://donate.theconversation.com/us 

By check: Mail to The Conversation U.S., 303 Wyman St., Suite 300, Waltham, MA 02451.

With stock: Please write to priyanka@theconversation.com if you are considering a gift of stock or a gift from your IRA.

The Conversation US, Inc. is a tax-exempt public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. All donations made are fully tax deductible, if you itemize. Our tax ID number is 46-0906774.