Many of you may have received an email supposedly from Bishop Hutterer that she wants to speak with you urgently but is going into a meeting and to email her. Please do NOT respond to that email – it is not from her official email address, and is a scam.

You will likely be asked for a contribution of gift cards or something else of that nature. You will notice that it is not coming from her official email address. The Bishop will never send such a message or solicit funds in this way.

Thanks to all of you who contacted the Synod Office for clarification. Please continue to be vigilant and verify with our office if you believe something is suspicious.

We remind everyone that emails scams are back, including fake emails and texts from Bishops. Please be very suspicious of any requests for money from the Office of the Bishop (except for statements of intent of course).

We’re including and adapting a scam awareness PDF created by the Southeastern Iowa synod which has great tips on how to recognize scam text and emails.

More and more congregations, and ministries are being targeted by scammers and phishing attacks. These emails or text messages often pretend they are a pastor or bishop and ask for private conversation, or the need to for a favor, or to purchase gift cards.

These attacks are a phishing or spoofing scam. This means that the email account or phone number has probably NOT been hacked. Attackers are using an alternate email address or phone number and contacts found using A.I. software.

This kind of attack is often called CEO Phishing or Business Email Compromise. In 2019, the FBI reported that this is a $26 billion scam.

HOW TO AVOID OR STOP SCAMS

1. Check the email address or phone number that sent the message. Modern email programs often only display the name as a default and not the email address. The attackers use this to their advantage and create addresses with the real name but use a bogus email address. Often using gmail or yahoo accounts. Text scammers will use area codes that are in the area you are in, claiming it is a new phone number.

2. Look for red flags in the tone and grammar of the email or text. Attackers will want to create a sense of urgency, to prey on your desire to help. They will often claim the bishop or pastor needs something and is in a meeting. Or needs to urgently have a private conversation. These emails will often contain misspellings, strange punctuation, or grammar that is just “off” a bit. Read messages with requests carefully.

3. Ask someone. Have someone else read the message for you to see if they notice anything weird. Call or email the church or synod office to check what the email address or phone number of person actually is.

4. Do not purchase gift cards or give out information. These scams often ask for the purchase of gift cards or want you to provide further information (for more scams). Never share information or make purchases from a text or email request without verifying information.

5. Report it. Report it to the person or leadership, the chances good that if you received a scam email or text, someone else did too. Also report it to the FCC. If you are the victim of a scam, report it to local law enforcement.

HOW IT WORKS

The attackers decide on a target (a congregation, ministry or synod) and does a search for names and email addresses of leadership.

The attackers create email addresses with a convincing name or domain to look similar to that of the leadership.

They then use software to find email addresses or phone numbers associated with their target.

They send emails or texts to the found addresses posing as a pastor or bishop to solicit money or information.