Unfortunately, here in Andover we have had trouble with email scams with fraudulent emails appearing to come from Fr. Rick. The most recent event occurred today, and was NOT sent from Fr. Rick - a fake email address was created to look like it came from Father Rick.
Clergy and staff from our parish will never send “emergency” or “urgent” emails requesting money, gift cards, or any other assistance. If you receive a questionable email, please do not open, do not reply, and certainly do not provide any sensitive information, particularly financial information. We have confirmed that a number of other parishes are being similarly targeted with these scams. Please be on alert.
This type of email scam is called phishing, which is an attempt to get personal information or money by pretending to be a trustworthy company or individual. Phishing has been around for a long time and attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Many messages can appear to be completely legitimate.
Always feel free to contact the Parish Office if you have any questions about suspect emails.
Tips to deal with Phishing:
• If the tone of the email is urgent, this should be a signal to use caution.
• NEVER respond to a wire transfer request. DO NOT share bank account numbers.
• Be cautious opening any attachments or links in any emails.
• Do not use the same password for your various internet accounts. Use a unique password for each.