By Francie Coale
The Church of the Brethren has received reports of a fraudulent email sent to churches and pastors using the denomination’s name and contact information.
The known version:
- Uses the subject “Urgent: Brethren Update”
- Says the sender is the “Church of the Brethren,” using admin@docupdatedd.org as its email address
- Includes a link labeled “BRETHREN – UPDATE”
The message is not from the Church of the Brethren. Its link may download software that could allow someone else to access the recipient’s computer remotely.
What to do
If you receive this message, do not reply, click the link, or download or install the file. Mark or report the message as phishing to your email provider and delete it.
If you downloaded the file but did not open it, delete it and run a security scan on your computer.
If you opened or installed the file, disconnect the computer from Wi-Fi and any wired network. Contact a trusted technology professional before using the device again for email, financial transactions, or other sensitive activity.
Recognizing suspicious messages
In fact, phishing emails are designed to appear trustworthy. They may use familiar names, logos, addresses, or language gathered from public sources. When receiving any unexpected message:
- Check the complete sender address—not only the name displayed.
- Pause when a message creates urgency or pressures you to act quickly.
- Use caution with unexpected links, attachments, downloads, or requests for information.
- Verify an unusual request by calling or emailing the real person using official contact information—not through the information provided in the message.
- Report the fraudulent or scam email to your email provider by marketing it as junk or spam. (Some providers even have a “report phishing” option.)
- For email scams impersonating the Church of the Brethren, Inc. and/or our staff, also notify us at cob.info.technology@brethren.org.
Stay attentive
Phishing and scam messages can be convincing. If you interact with one, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Reporting incidents can help us protect one another as a community.
—Francie Coale is the director of Information Technology for the Church of the Brethren.
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Find more Church of the Brethren news:
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- Fraudulent email prompts reminder to verify unexpected messages
- Un correo electrónico fraudulento solicita un recordatorio para verificar los mensajes inesperados.
- Imèl fo ki raple ou verifye mesaj inatandi yo