URGENT PHISHING/SPAM ALERT!

Protect Yourself From Fraud and Scams

Received a text, call or email that seems suspicious?

Don’t respond to it.

Recognize and Report Fraud

  • Slow Down – Scammers rely on urgency to create panic. Be cautious of anything that implies you must act immediately. Take the time to review the message, then review it again.

  • Don’t Click — If you receive a suspicious email, don’t click any links contained in the email.

  • Check the Details – Are there spelling or grammar errors? Generic greetings, like “Sir or Madame?” Fraudsters will frequently use small typos to trick you into clicking on the link.

  • Report It – Report it to the Federal Trade Commission.

  • Delete and Block It – So you don’t accidentally interact with it later.

  • If It Seems Too Good to be True… then it probably is.

What Messages Are From FUCSJ?

Never wire money, send money orders, gift cards or cash. Messages from FUCSJ Staff will never ask you for gift cards, money transfers or donations solicited over text messages or email. In the unlikely event an urgent need for financial support arises, contributions will only be processed using the Minister’s Discretionary Fund.

FUCSJ Staff Emails:

office@sanjoseuu.org

nika@sanjoseuu.org

revdrxk@sanjoseuu.org

If you don’t see the “sanjoseuu.org” extension, it is not from us.

Spam and Phishing Emails

Fraudulent e-mails adopt many different forms and are the unauthorized actions of third parties not associated with FUCSJ. These e-mail messages referred to as “phishing” or “spoofing” are becoming more common and may appear legitimate by incorporating company brands, colors, or other legal disclaimers. Help protect yourself by becoming familiar with these methods of fraud:

  • Spam: Often referred to as “junk mail,” spam consists of e-mail messages that are unsolicited by the recipient and that target the recipient with direct mail messages.

  • Phishing: The term “phishing,” as in fishing for confidential information, refers to a scam in which the sender attempts to fraudulently obtain and use personal or financial information.

Awareness and recognition of fraudulent letters, e-mails and phishing attempts is vital to protecting yourself against theft and other related crimes. Common indicators that an e-mail might be fraudulent include the following:

  • Design Flaws: An e-mail containing distorted or irregularly sized logos

  • Poor Grammar: Grammatical errors and excessive use of exclamation points

  • Misspellings: Incorrectly spelled words or links to altered websites

  • Sense of Urgency: Alarming messages requesting immediate action, such as “I’m in a meeting and can’t speak on the phone but have an urgent need” or “Contact us immediately…”

  • Unexpected Requests: A request attempting to obtain money, financial information (e.g. bank account or payment card numbers), or access personal information (for example: “Hello, Kindly help me with the updated password to the Member’s Login. Peace.”

  • Communication Gaps: An e-mail that does not provide an alternative method for communicating the requested information (i.e. telephone, mail, or physical locations)

  • Deceptive Link: A link contained within an e-mail that appears to direct your browser to a known, safe site but actually directs your browser to another location, potentially to an unsafe or fraudulent site. You can detect this by hovering over the link with your cursor.  This causes the actual destination of the link to display in a pop-up, the lower left of your status bar, or other location depending on your e-mail client. It is suspicious if the actual destination does not match the address in the link. Also be suspicious of links containing numbers in place of letters, abbreviations, and slight misspellings in the link.

Additional information on spam or phishing can be found online at the Federal Trade Commission website.

Visit the Federal Trade Commission