EMAIL SAFTY & SECURITY

Churches are often seen as ideal targets by scammers for several reasons:

High Trust Environment

Public Information

Generous Givers

Limited Tech Infrastructure

Valuable Member Data

Targeting Older Generations

High Trust Environment

Church communities are built on trust, which scammers exploit. Members are more likely to respond to emails, texts, or calls that appear to come from trusted church leaders or staff.

Public Information



Churches often list leadership names, events, and contact details publicly on websites and bulletins. This makes it easy for scammers to impersonate clergy or staff in phishing attempts.

Generous Givers

Many church members are naturally generous and willing to give when they believe there’s a need—especially if it seems like a request from a pastor or a mission outreach. Scammers take advantage of this goodwill by asking for fake donations, gift cards, or emergency support.

Limited Tech Infrastructure

Churches may not always have the same level of IT security or training as businesses. This can make them more vulnerable to email spoofing, data breaches, and fraudulent access attempts

Valuable Member Data

Church databases often include full names, addresses, phone numbers, emails, and sometimes even donation history—information that scammers can use for identity theft or to craft convincing scams targeting individuals.

Targeting Older Generations

Churches often have older members who may be more trusting or less familiar with digital scams, making them frequent targets for fraud.

How Scammers Make Emails Look Like They’re from Someone You Know

They Copy the Name

Not the Address

The scammer sets up a fake email account that uses the same name as a trusted person, like “Fr. John Dow” The email might come from something like:

fr.john.doe@gmail.com or churchpastor123@yahoo.com

not the real church domain. Most people only glance at the sender’s name, not the full email address, so it looks convincing at first.

They Mimic Language

and Style

Scammers often write in a friendly or urgent tone that sounds like something your pastor or colleague might say. They might ask, “Can you do me a quick favor?” or “I need help with something private.”

They Ask for Sensitive Info

or Gift Cards

Send gift cards (like Amazon or Apple cards)

Share personal or financial information

Click a link that leads to a fake login page

Open an attachment that installs malware

Remaining vigilant is crucial. Scammers thrive on individuals acting hastily without verification. Should you receive a message that appears suspicious, even if it seems to come from someone you recognize, take a moment to verify before responding or clicking any links.

You can do this by either calling the Church directory (don't allow them to "transfer" you if you are on the phone, or click on the "reply" button if in an email.  Compose a new email and use the address you know is correct.