February 26, 2022
North Creek Presbyterian Church has identified a cybersecurity threat.
You may have received a fraudulent text message.
Date First Reported: 02/26/2022
Threat: Request for a favor and/or to purchase gift cards for women going through cancer. These texts are purported to be from Pastor Kurt. THEY ARE NOT.
Originating Source: Multiple telephone numbers, most with non-local area codes. These are NOT Pastor Kurt's cell phone number.
Action: Do not reply to text. Block the number. Report it to the FTC (https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/). Report it to it_support@northcreekpres.org (attach screen shot), then delete.
If you have fallen victim to this threat or require additional assistance, please contact Michael Mallant at it_support@northcreekpres.org.
February 24, 2022
North Creek Presbyterian Church has identified a cybersecurity threat. You may have received a fraudulent email or text.
Date First Reported: 02/24/2022
Subject: North Creek
Threat: Request for a favor and to email as soon as you get the message.
Originating Source: from reneehoke.uccftw@gmail.com or anna.uccaustinn@gmail.com- This is NOT an official North Creek email address.
Action: Do not reply to email. Forward the fraudulent email to it_support@northcreekpres.org then delete.
If you have fallen victim to this threat or require additional assistance, please contact Michael Mallant at it_support@northcreekpres.org.
February 23, 2022
North Creek Presbyterian Church has identified a cybersecurity threat. You may have received a fraudulent email or text.
Date First Reported: 02/23/2022
Threat: Email falsely states that Kurt is requesting that someone buy an eBay gift card for some women going through cancer.
Originating Source: from kurt.northcreekprres@gmail.com This is NOT an official North Creek email address and is NOT originating from Kurt’s official NCPC email address.
Action: Do not reply to email. Forward the fraudulent email to it_support@northcreekpres.org then delete.
If you have fallen victim to this threat or require additional assistance, please contact Michael Mallant at it_support@northcreekpres.org.
February 23, 2022
Memo
To: NCPC members and friends
From: Pastor Kurt Helmcke
Good morning to you all. I'm writing this personal note in response to a series of scam email attacks on members of our congregation. Our IT manager Michael Mallant has assessed the threat level as HIGH. In fact, some of you may suspect that this email may not actually be from me. That level of suspicion is warranted at this time.
We have reason to believe that our member directory information may have been compromised. That means you may begin receiving scam emails from fellow NCPC members, and that will be harder for us to track. Be assured that all of our internal and cloud-based information systems are fully secure (database, giving, etc.).
For the time being, please follow these measures:
- Suspect that all NCPC-related emails MAY be fraudulent.
- Report all suspected emails IMMEDIATELY to Michael Mallant at the IT email listed below.
- Follow up suspicions by contacting people by phone. If a fellow member appears to be seeking information from you, please confirm it is them before offering information.
- At this time we ask all NCPC members and friends NOT to ask anyone for information via email. Please contact fellow members by phone with requests.
- The online church directory has been taken down temporarily. If you need contact information, please call the church office from 10am-1pm, Monday - Thursday.
- Printed directories are available in the church office. Please understand that you may be asked to provide photo identification if the volunteer in the office is new or does not recognize you.
Even in the midst of this challenge, God is with us. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you day by day.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Kurt
February 23, 2022
North Creek Presbyterian Church has identified a cybersecurity threat. You may have received a fraudulent email or text.
Date First Reported: 02/23/2022
Threat: Threat: Email states that Kurt is needing a favor, and to email him as soon as you get this message.
Originating Source: from usctylerda@gmail.com or harveyportlandavenue@gmail.com - These are NOT an official North Creek email address and is NOT originating from Kurt’s official NCPC email address. There is evidence of multiple originating sources:
Action: Do not reply to email. Forward the fraudulent email to it_support@northcreekpres.org then delete.
If you have fallen victim to this threat or require additional assistance, please contact Michael Mallant at it_support@northcreekpres.org.
February 22, 2022
North Creek Presbyterian Church has identified a potential cybersecurity threat. You may have received a fraudulent email or text.
Date First Reported: 02/22/2022
Threat: Threat: Request for password to access members directory posted on the church website.
Originating Source: from Cherri.atoneluth.org@gmail.com - This is NOT an official North Creek email address. A text from 724-281-3617 may have also been used to contact members via text.
Action: Do not reply to email. Forward the fraudulent email to it_support@northcreekpres.org then delete.
If you have fallen victim to this threat or require additional assistance, please contact Michael Mallant at it_support@northcreekpres.org.