St Paul - San Pablo Episcopal Church

Cybersecurity: Phishers/Scammers Impersonating Bishop Doyle

Please see this message from Bishop Andrew Doyle:

Dear Clergy:

Unfortunately, as our online reach grows, we become more visible to internet scams. These scammers are plentiful and try and spoof identities phishing for money. This is not a “hack” because they have not broken into our systems.

Our systems are encrypted multiple times, and do not show any hack or breach of data to date.

What “spoofers” do is to mine data freely available on the internet. In our case, they target EDOT staff and clergy, impersonating Bishop Doyle or others via a fake email. This is called “phishing.”

Unfortunately, these scammers even receive money from unsuspecting victims who just want to help.

Phishing emails as well as phishing text messages will continue to happen. We don’t have control over that since anybody can create any email address and impersonate someone else. We can block email addresses internally but externally the only thing we can do is to communicate and educate one another regarding phishing emails and how to take precautions.

Please read the strategies below to make sure you don’t become a victim.

The Bishops and Staff of the Diocese of Texas will NEVER
• send official requests from non-official email addresses (all of our email addresses end in @epicenter.org)
• request that you not call our office to confirm a request. You are always free to call us.
• ask you to purchase anything on their behalf without verbal confirmation and reasonable notice.

If you receive an email that
• appears to be from someone impersonating one of our staff (especially if the email address ends in anything other than @epicenter.org)
• requests that you urgently do them a favor but does not allow you to call our offices (“I’m in a meeting, so no calls, just reply to my email.”)
• asks you to purchase gift cards or other cash-equivalent items

Please DO NOT reply!

Immediately forward the email to reportphishing@apwg.org to report it as a scam. You can also report and block it through your email service provider.

For more information, please click here: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/.../how-recognize-and-avoid...

Please feel free to adapt and use this as a template for your own parish communications. We are now getting reports of parishioners receiving emails from scammers impersonating local clergy.

When I first began ministry, before mobile phones and email, they did this by telephone. Most of remember the fake “inheritance” letters. These fake bequests eventually were converted to email notices. Today phishing is done by email and text. Be wary and follow these guidelines to cut down on scams and save our money for individuals and causes that truly need our help.

Faithfully yours,

C. Andrew Doyle
IX Bishop of Texas
Episcopal Diocese of Texas

Effective September 4, he federal agency Center for Disease Control has issued an ban on evictions until December 31: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-eviction-declaration.html

1) Print and sign the declaration form:

English: http://bit.ly/declarationcdcmoratorium

Spanish: http://bit.ly/declaracionespanol

If you need a printed copy or have questions, please call us at (346) 291-3281.

2) Take a photo for your own copy.

3) Hand it to your landlord.

* The landlord can still issue a notice to vacate but this is not an official government order and they cannot use this to ask you to move!

El Centro de Control de Enfermedades de la agencia federal ha emitido una prohibición de desalojos del 4 de septiembre hasta el 31 de diciembre: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-eviction-declaration.html

1) Imprima y firme la hoja de declaración:

Inglés: http://bit.ly/declarationcdcmoratorium

Español: http://bit.ly/declaracionespanol

Si necesita una copia impresa o tiene preguntas, llámenos al (346) 291-3281.

2) Tome una foto para su propia copia.

3) Dáselo a tu arrendador.

* El arrendador aún puede emitir un aviso de desalojo, pero esta no es una orden oficial del gobierno y no puede usarla para pedirle que se mude.

Source: El Pueblo Primero www.facebook.com/ElPuebloPrimeroHouston