Is that email really from Rev. Phares?

Recently, we're seeing an uptick in attempts to scam our congregation via email communication.  These emails will seem to come from a member of staff, most commonly Rev. Phares.  Here are some tips to keep in mind if something seems suspicious.

1. Check the sender's email address - If the email is not from a recognized email or an official asuuc.net or asuuc.org address, it is likely phishing.

2. Reach out to official channels - If you are unsure, please verify by reaching out to a familiar email, such as churchadmin@asuuc.net, or the church phone number, 719-633-7717.  We're happy to confirm communications.

3. Look out for misspellings and odd phrasing - If something seems off, it probably is.

4. Do not reply - Once again, do not hit reply.  Compose a new email to the supposed sender using the correct email address.

5. Scammers often choose incorrect spelling of domains, called “typosquatting” where they purchase a domain name similar to the actual domain but spelled a little different.  Look closely at addresses for errors.

2. Never send money directly.

3. Watch for a sense of urgency in the email—scammers want you to act before thinking.

Here are some resources to further arm you against these kinds of attacks:

https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-avoid-phishing-scams

https://www.uua.org/central-east/blog/better-together/phishing-continues

Thank you all for your diligence!