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Please be aware of a new twist on the gift card scam aimed at churches. Recently, members of the Region received an email or text from what appeared to be from Treena Duncan, Executive Minister of the Region, requesting gift cards. 

Our biggest defense against scammers is educating ourselves and our congregations. The blessing is that congregational participants recognized the scam. Please remember that Regional staff and congregational leaders will not be emailing you to request gift cards or cash.

Let’s continue to educate ourselves on how scammers use emotional manipulation or a sense of urgency to protect ourselves and others.

Please remember:

  • Hover over email addresses: If an email appears suspicious, hover over or tap on the sender’s name (depending on the device) to reveal the actual email address. Does the email address match the name of the sender?
  • Matching email addresses: Look at the email address carefully. Even if the name looks familiar, scammers often create fake addresses that appear similar to the real ones.
  • Call the alleged sender. Use a phone number you already have on file, not one from the email.
  • Do not reply or click on links. If you suspect a scam, do not engage. Delete it. Clicking links can expose you to phishing attempts.
  • Educate new church staff on the potential for scams and protecting the contact information of congregation participants. Encourage them to verify unexpected requests and never share contact details publicly.
  • Report the scam. If you receive a suspicious request, report it to your email provider as phishing.