E-mail Scam Targeting Pastor E-mail Accounts

Dear First Congregational members and friends, There is an e-mail scam targeting churches that’s been ongoing for a number of months we have also been targeted. The scammers send an e-mail that PRETENDS to be from your pastor but IS NOT. These can be very convincing. For example, the screenshot I saw earlier today appeared to be coming from my e-mail address AND included a photo of me. 

The scammers typically ask for something vague like “I need your help with something, please reply.” If you make the mistake of replying they will then attempt to draw you into a scam. The most common one I’ve heard of involves the pastor pretending to need gift cards to assist someone in need, but I’m sure there are other versions. 

I will not send you an e-mail asking you for money or gifts cards. I am also NOT very likely to send you a message that vaguely says "can you help with something?"

If you receive an e-mail that looks like it’s from me asking for help with something, you should:
1) open up a NEW e-mail (do NOT reply to the email in question)
2) type my e-mail address into the NEW email
3) use the NEW e-mail to ask  if I contacted you
(You could also call/text/ask me in person, of course).

Please contact Sandy or me if you have any questions. 

Pastor Caela