Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 20 August 2026

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters.

Email Phishing Scams Increasingly Target Churches

MinistryWatch reports that phishing scams are increasingly targeting churches and faith-based organizations. The scammers often impersonate faith leaders and request gift cards, money, or other sensitive information. Arecent incident at Good Shepherd Anglican Church in North Carolina demonstrated a common tactic.A scammer impersonating the rector requested gift-card donations from a look-alike email address. The FBI reported 193,407 phishing/spoofing complaints in 2024, making it the most reported cybercrime. Financial losses from phishing increased from $18.7 million in 2023 to $70 million in 2024. The article describes churches as operating in “high-trust, low-tech environments,” where publicly available email addresses, volunteers handling administrative tasks, and reliance on trusted leaders can create opportunities for attackers.

Analyst Comments: Phishing presents a significant risk to faith-based organizations because attackers can exploit the trust placed in pastors, ministry leaders, staff, and volunteers. A fraudulent request that appears to come from a pastor may receive less scrutiny than a typical suspicious email, particularly when it creates urgency or asks the recipient to act discreetly. The potential impact extends beyond financial loss; a successful compromise can expose member information, donor data, financial accounts, and other sensitive information while damaging confidence in the organization.

Faith-based organizations can reduce phishing risk by taking a few key steps. 

• Provide regular phishing training for employees and volunteers.
• Implement multifactor authentication on email and other key accounts. 
• Utilize email filtering to block suspicious messages before they reach users.

Resources:

• CISA Anti-Phishing Training Program Support
• FBI Spoofing and Phishing

What Federal Agents Can and Cannot Do When They Investigate a Church

This Faith Freedom Report outlines the legal boundaries surrounding federal investigations of churches and ministries. The article emphasizes that the First Amendment provides significant protections for religious organizations, but those protections do not prevent lawful investigations when credible evidence of criminal activity exists. According to the article, federal investigators cannot initiate an investigation based solely on a church’s beliefs or denomination. Unlawful activities include undercover monitoring, demanding counseling records without appropriate legal authority, or questioning members about their religious beliefs. However, when probable cause exists, authorities can obtain warrants to search church property, seize financial records, and interview witnesses. The article summarizes this balance by stating that “the key legal requirement is that investigations must target suspected criminal activity, not religious expression.”

Analyst Comments: For faith-based organizations, the article shows the value of knowing legal rights and duties before an investigation. Houses of worship can reduce confusion by keeping clear financial records and written policies. Leaders and key staff can receive training on how to respond if federal agents arrive, this can include checking credentials and asking to see a warrant when needed. Staff can also know when to call legal counsel and how to preserve key records. Clear response steps can help staff work with law enforcement while protecting the rights of the organization. 

Nerd Out EP 73: 5th Annual 2/3rd of the Year Awards with the Cybersecurity Evangelist

The Gate 15 Nerd Out! Security Panel Discussion, moderated by Dave Pounder, focuses on physical security topics including terrorism, extremism, hostile events, and other pertinent topics.

In this month’s Nerd Out Dave and Alec welcome special guest Jennifer Lyn Walker, the Cybersecurity Evangelist, to go through the 2/3-year awards.

Information on other Gate 15 podcasts can be found at Podcasts (gate15.global).