Be careful! Cyber criminals try to scam you using emails disguised as coming from a trusted source, a process which is called phishing. Churches are a prime target of phishing scams.
Saint Michael & All Angels clergy and staff will never email to ask you for donations, gift cards, or private contact. Be cautious when an email claiming to originate from Saint Michael & All Angels feels unexpected or out of the ordinary. Scammers count on getting you to act before you think.
Watch out for these red flags of a phishing attack:
A generic greeting instead of your actual name.
A play on your emotions and desire to be helpful.
A false sense of urgency.
Poor spelling and grammar.
Requests you reply by email only and not by phone call.
Do not reply to these messages. Instead, contact clergy by creating a new email message or call by phone to verify the request.
Thank you and stay safe out there!
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