Beware of COVID-19 Cyber Scams
April 13, 2020
Ministries are creatively scrambling to continue their operations and safely engage their congregations with an array of online technologies during the coronavirus pandemic. From working remote to live streaming Bible studies and services, it’s safe to say most ministries are relying on web-based programs more than ever.
Unfortunately, hackers are ready to take advantage of the confusion with scams designed to steal valuable data or siphon funds from your ministry.
How to Prevent this?
There are many precautions which can be taken to avoid this type of a loss. For example, if in doubt about the validity of a request, you can pick up the phone and call the person who you think is making the request and ask them to confirm it verbally. To learn more about to how protect your ministry against claims like these, check out Brotherhood Mutual’s new article, “Coronavirus: Beware of Cyber Fraud,” and another one that speaks to the issue of fake emails, “Stop the Thief In Your Inbox.”
Claim Example
A criminal creates an email that appears to be coming from the new executive pastor of the church. The criminal sends the church business manager an email that says the pastor is switching bank accounts and would like his paycheck EFT’d into the new account. While this is generally something that would be discussed in person, this is not possible now due to COVID-19. The business manager reluctantly complies with the request, even though something doesn’t “feel right” about the email. In addition, the business manager doesn’t want to frustrate the new boss. Once the “submit” button is hit, the money is gone.
Is My Ministry Covered?
There are varying degrees of risk tolerance regarding this type of exposure. To many, it can feel like something like this would never happen. However, we have seen increasing instances of this very type of theft, as criminals continue to use more sophisticated ways to victimize organizations. What if you have taken reasonable precautions, but a criminal still finds a way to persuade someone in your ministry to send funds to him? Will your insurance policy cover this type of loss? Under most theft insurance coverage forms, there is a provision which excludes “voluntary parting” with money. The funds were not stolen, they were voluntarily sent to the fraudulent party, albeit under false pretenses. Due to this exclusion, these claims would not normally be covered.
Brotherhood Mutual has created a coverage that directly addresses this exposure. It’s called “Theft by Coercion.” It does not include the “voluntary parting” exclusion, so it is intended to cover losses like the one described above.
Our purpose with this blog post is simply to educate you about what our agency is seeing. We would like to give you an efficient way to check on this coverage and add it to your policy. Please click here to reach out to our service team to add the coverage or inquire further and we would be happy to help you.
- April 13, 2021
- Take Time to Review Your Ministry's Child Protection Plan
-
-
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Though child abuse may not be something you could ever imagine happening within your ministry, sexual abuse of a minor is one of the top five reasons churches end up in court, according to Church Law & Tax. Studies also show that a child is much more likely to be sexually abused by a trusted adult than a stranger.
- March 16, 2021
- Prepare for Severe Spring Storms Now
-
-
When severe storms strike, they can produce high winds and tornadoes. Damaging winds can wreak havoc on your ministry’s property and to buildings. A high wind event can crash debris through your windows, strip your siding, down trees on your parking lot, peel shingles off your roof, and fling back the flashing.
- February 25, 2021
- Catalytic Converter Theft on the Rise: Protect Ministry Vehicles
-
-
Thieves are taking advantage of soaring precious metal prices. Take steps to protect your ministry’s vehicles and property.
- February 15, 2021
- Grant Funds Available for Safeguarding Ministries
-
-
As the Director of Ministry Safety for our agency, I am dedicated to finding ways to help safeguard ministries like yours.
- February 5, 2021
- Avoid Frozen Pipes as Temperatures Plummet
-
-
As temperatures plummet, the risk of freezing pipes jumps. Frozen pipes can cause costly messes that could also put your ministry on hold while you clean up.
- January 12, 2021
- Potential Vulnerabilities in School's Safety Plan
-
-
On behalf of our agency, I recently participated in one such training which focused on strategies and tactics for responding as a single officer to an active safety threat in a school building.
- January 5, 2021
- Church Safety Trends for 2021
-
-
If you’re anything like me (and maybe the rest of the world for that matter), you’re grateful to put the craziness of the past year behind us.
- November 23, 2020
- COVID-19 and the Christmas Season
-
-
Preparing for this Christmas season may require additional creativity, due to the uncertainty of what COVID-19 may bring in our local community.
- October 28, 2020
- Guidance for Ministries About Boy Scouts' Bankruptcy
-
-
A mid-November deadline in the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) bankruptcy proceedings may have you wondering what the organization’s bankruptcy filing means for your ministry if you ever hosted or chartered Boy Scout Troops.
- October 27, 2020
- Self-Defense or Second-Degree Murder?
-
-
On October 10, 2020, in Denver, Colorado, a 30-year-old private security guard who was hired to protect a Denver news crew while covering protests was involved in a deadly shooting that claimed the life of a 49-year-old man.
- October 1, 2020
- Applying for PPP Loan Forgiveness
-
-
Organizations that obtained Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding through the CARES Act can have their loans forgiven, turning them into grants. To qualify, each borrower must file a forgiveness application with its PPP lender, proving that it followed the rules. If your church, school, college, or camp meets all the criteria, 100% of its loan can be forgiven.
- August 27, 2020
- Emergency Dispatch: Cameron Peak
-
-
Lessons learned from the front line of a wildland fire.
- August 20, 2020
- Colorado Wildfires: Prepare Your Ministry Now
-
-
Four major wildfires are burning across Colorado, fueled by dry vegetation, drought and wind.
- April 13, 2020
- Beware of COVID-19 Cyber Scams
-
-
Ministries are creatively scrambling to continue their operations and safely engage their congregations with an array of online technologies during the coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, hackers are ready to take advantage of the confusion with scams designed to steal valuable data or siphon funds from your ministry. Learn how to keep your ministry safe from scams.
- March 30, 2020
- CARES Act: Churches Need to Apply Now
-
-
Learn about the CARES Act and two loans for which ministries may be eligible, since Congress authorized additional funding April 23.
- March 6, 2020
- Coronavirus and Your Ministry: Tips for Prevention
-
-
As concern over the dangers associated with the spread of a new coronavirus, COVID-19, spreads, our agency and Brotherhood Mutual want to keep you informed and provide best practices for managing the spread of this and similar illnesses at your ministry.
- January 29, 2020
- Hosting a Game Day Bash? Brush Up on Copyright Basics
-
-
The first Sunday in February is a big day for sports fans. In fact, many Americans view Super Bowl Sunday as a national holiday. Friends and families will gather this year to watch the big game, enjoy delicious snacks, and of course, critique the commercials that go along with game day.
- October 28, 2019
- Are You Covered If You're Injured Overseas?
-
-
Recently, we learned about two major overseas incidents involving pastors on mission trips. The first incident involved a pastor being hit by a motorcycle while running. The second was a bus accident involving two pastors. The runner and one of the two bus passengers sustained extensive injuries.
- September 1, 2019
- IRS Announces More Church Audits Regarding ACA Compliance
-
-
Last month, the IRS announced that its initiating hundreds of church exams to test compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). While many provisions only apply to churches with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees (FTEs), even smaller churches could potentially violate provisions applicable to health benefit plans with as few as 2 plan participants.
- August 15, 2019
- Record Breaking Hailstorm Hits Colorado
-
-
On Tuesday, August 15, 2019, a record-breaking hailstorm struck multiple areas throughout the state of Colorado.