Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland

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Phishing emails

Beware of a Recent Phishing Scam Impersonating Vineyard Churches UK and Ireland

We have recently been alerted to a phishing scam targeting Pastors, Church Leaders and Conference speakers. This scam involves emails sent by someone impersonating Vineyard Churches UK and Ireland, specifically from an individual falsely claiming to be “Pastor Keith Moore.” These emails invite recipients to speak at a conference, which is not organised by us.

Key Points to Note

  • Impersonation Alert: The scam involves fraudulent emails from “Pastor Keith Moore” inviting individuals to speak at a non-existent conference.
  • No Affiliation: These emails are not from Vineyard Churches UK and Ireland. We have no connection with these communications.
  • Contact Information: Our official communications will always come from our verified domain (@vcuki.org.uk) and will not use personal or unfamiliar email addresses.

How to Spot a Phishing Scam

  • Check the Sender’s Email Address: Ensure the email address ends with @vcuki.org.uk. Be wary of any variations or personal (gmail etc) email addresses.
  • Look for Generic Greetings: Phishing emails often use generic greetings such as “Dear Sir/Madam” instead of your name.
  • Verify Unexpected Requests: If you receive unexpected requests for personal information, invitations to events, or offers that seem too good to be true, be cautious.
  • Check for Spelling and Grammar Errors: Phishing emails often contain spelling mistakes (including American spellings as opposed to English), poor grammar, and awkward phrasing.
  • Links and Attachments: Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown or suspicious emails. Hover over links to see the actual URL before clicking.
  • Requests for money: These phishing emails often lead to a request for money, either for visa arrangements, speaking fees or gift cards for conference attendees. We will never request money from anyone contributing to one of our events.

How to Report a Phishing Email

  • Do Not Respond: Do not reply to the email or provide any personal information.
  • Forward the Email: Send the phishing email to our official email address: [email protected]
  • Report to Authorities: You can report phishing emails to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre, at www.actionfraud.police.uk.
  • Mark as Spam: Use your email provider’s options to mark the email as spam or phishing.

Protecting Yourself

  • Enable Spam Filters: Ensure your email service has spam filters enabled.
  • Update Software: Keep your operating system, antivirus, and other software updated to protect against security threats.
  • Be Informed: Stay informed about common phishing tactics and be vigilant about the emails you receive.

Apologies

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience and concern this phishing scam may have caused. While these fraudulent emails are beyond our control, we understand the frustration and confusion they can create. Please be assured that we are actively working to address this issue and prevent further occurrences. Your security and trust are paramount to us, and we appreciate your vigilance and cooperation in helping us combat these scams.

Example email

The sort of email that has been circulating is a variation on the following:

Greetings unto you Pastor (Clergy person’s name)

We are Pastor Mark Keith Moore of Vineyard Church UK , United Kingdom. We are writing to invite you to be our guest speaker at Our upcoming conference tagged “Faith Restoration conference and Banquet”coming up from 24th to AUGUST 27th 2022.

The Lord has direct us to email you for this assignment after we got your contact on (church website)
Air ticket Hotel accommodation, feeding and speaker fee, will be taken care of as soon as you honor this invitation.

VENUE: Conference Hall
Unit 8 K3 Business Park
200 Clough Road
Hull HU5 1SN
London, United Kingdom
Date : 24th to AUGUST 27th 2022
Theme: The Effect of Compromising God’s Standard

We will send you all binding documents including a formal Letter of Invitation document and a speaker Agreement document as soon as you honor our invitation,with your Full names and address,direct telephone number,scan copy of you recent picture for the poster and flyer.

Stay Blessed
Pastor Mark Keith Moore
Vineyard Church UK
+44-744-1444-828

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