Security & Communication
Verifying Official OWFI Communication
Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. is committed to maintaining clear, trustworthy communication with our members, affiliates, conference attendees, and the broader writing community.
This page provides guidance for verifying official OWFI communication and reporting suspicious or fraudulent messages falsely claiming to represent the organization.
Recent Impersonation Attempts
In 2026, OWFI received reports of impersonation-based phishing attempts targeting authors in connection with conference-related communication.
The reported messages included:
Invitations to participate as a “Featured Author”
Offers for paid “virtual table” or promotional opportunities
Requests for payment through personal PayPal accounts
Instructions to send payment using the “Friends & Family” option
Messages sent from Gmail or other non-OWFI email addresses
Use of names or roles associated with OWFI to appear credible
These communications were not legitimate and were not associated with OWFI.
Official OWFI Communication Standards
To help members and visitors verify communication claiming to be from OWFI, please note the following:
OWFI will only communicate through:
Email addresses ending in @owfi.org
Official OWFI channels and designated representatives
OWFI does not:
Sell opportunities or offer packages that are not found and purchased through our website
Request payment through personal PayPal accounts
Require payment using PayPal “Friends & Family”
Conduct official business through public email services such as Gmail
Any communication inconsistent with these standards should be treated with caution.
Reporting Suspicious Communication
If you receive a message that appears suspicious or falsely claims to represent OWFI:
Do not send payment or personal information
Do not continue communication with the sender
Forward the message to scams@owfi.org
Reports help us monitor ongoing activity and respond appropriately.
Organizational Response
OWFI monitors reported impersonation and phishing activity and may report fraudulent accounts or communications to the appropriate service providers or platforms.
At this time, there is no indication that OWFI systems or member data have been compromised in connection with these incidents.
Contact
Questions or concerns regarding suspicious communication may be directed to the board via email.
