Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 30 September 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.

Are Churches Becoming Hot Targets for Property Theft?

West Saint Mark Church of Christ in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, nearly lost land intended for a future church building after an alleged scammer impersonated Pastor Timothy Peppers and fraudulently sold the property for $110,000 using falsified documents, an online listing, and electronic deed filing. A Secret Service agent alerted Peppers to suspicious activity, allowing the county to rescind the transfer and the buyer’s bank to stop the payment. However, clearing the fraudulent deed still requires a court order and may involve legal expenses. The case illustrates a growing nationwide problem in which criminals use public records, fake identification, and internet-based phone numbers to impersonate property owners and arrange unauthorized sales. Similar deed-theft disputes have affected churches in New York, while FBI data shows thousands of real estate fraud cases and more than $1.3 billion in reported losses between 2019 and 2023.

Analyst Comments: As previously reported in the August 6 DAP, churches can be attractive targets for property theft because they may hold valuable real estate while relying on volunteer leadership, decentralized recordkeeping, and limited legal or administrative resources. Today’s impersonation and electronic-filing schemes increase that exposure. Essential safeguards include:

• Enroll in deed-alert programs.
• Monitor property records routinely.
• Establish clear controls over property transactions.
• Maintain relationships with reputable legal and title professionals.

FB-ISAO Newsletter, v8, Issue 9

The September 2026 FB-ISAO newsletter assesses the Physical Threat Level as SEVERE and Cyber Threat Level as ELEVATED for U.S. faith-based organizations. It highlights concerns surrounding automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems, including privacy, data access, transparency, and congregational trust. Faith leaders are encouraged to understand nearby surveillance technology, clarify data practices, communicate with congregants, and prepare for disruptions. The newsletter also previews Cybersecurity Awareness Month, emphasizing cybersecurity as part of responsible stewardship. Recommended practices include pausing to verify requests, providing regular reminders, setting clear AI-use guidelines, and having leaders model secure behavior.