Phishing is very common these days, and as people get more desperate, phishing attacks will get worse. When people attempt to steal your data, they do so using free email address providers. They will use email accounts purporting to be from the bishop or a local pastor but using an @gmail.com address or something similar. Rarely, will they come from an @umcnic.org email address.

Since they use outside e-mail accounts, we are unable to do anything about them except to advise you to use due diligence in looking at the sender of suspicious e-mails. The FTC has more details available here: consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scams

Them sending an email to you using a Conference employee name but not their email address, does not mean our data has been compromised. They are simply creating an email address using one of our names. There is no need to forward these messages to us, and, in fact, doing so can validate to the sender that you have a valid email address. The best practice is to either report it using the information in the link above or move it to your junk folder.

With all that said, if you receive a suspicious email from an address that ends in @umcnic.org, please do let us know by sending an e-mail to dquinn@umcnic.org. Again, only if the email address ends in @umcnic.org should you notify us.

We receive the same type of emails within our office, and we do understand the struggle. It is one faced by every organization and business. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to prevent these things from happening.

If you need more information on phishing and other scams, the FTC has lots of information at consumer.ftc.gov/topics/online-security.