Learn How to Avoid Scams!

Do you know how to tell a real email from a fake? What about a text or phone call? Anyone can be targeted by scammers, so it’s important to be careful when responding to emails, texts, and calls!

As a general reminder, no one from UU La Crosse will ever ask you for account information or to purchase gifts cards or anything like that (a common scam approach is to request online gift card purchases and then you send them the code). If you ever see an email asking for any kind of login information related to any of your online accounts, you should just delete it. Don’t click any links. If it’s asking for information or help with someone that doesn’t make sense to you, it’s almost certainly a scam. 

When in doubt, check the actual email address (not just the name that appears) and confirm it’s the same address you have on file for that person. If you don’t recognize the email address, don’t respond. If you’re unsure if it’s the real person, you can reach out in a new email (do not reply to the email you received, start a new one using the address you know) to the person to confirm they’re requesting something. And listen to your gut. If something feels off about the email, you’re probably right! 

To help, I’ve collected a list of the most common scams I’ve seen, so you can be on the lookout for them. 

• Requests for our Member directory. Do not give anyone access to your Breeze account, and do not share our Member directory with anyone. If someone needs access to our directory, you can send them to me. If someone gets our directory, they may use it to send scam emails, texts, or calls to our Members. We want to avoid that. 
• Emails claiming that your UU login credential expiring, or your UU inbox being full. Delete and ignore these. 
• Vague requests for help. Emails that, at first glance, appear to be from someone you know. It could look like it’s from me, or Rev. Bruce (these are the ones I get, for example), but they are fake. They will likely say something like “Hey, are you there? I need your help with something real quick”. It will be very brief, and likely start by just asking you to reply because someone needs help, or they need to set up a direct deposit for something. If you reply, they will likely ask you to purchase online gift cards for something or provide banking info. Delete!

Here is a list of email security reminders borrowed from the First Unitarian Church in New Bedford. Note that all of this can also apply to text messages.

1. Check the sender’s email address: Be cautious of emails from unfamiliar or suspicious email addresses. Sometimes, phishing emails may mimic legitimate senders, but the email address may have slight variations or misspellings.

2. Inspect URLs before clicking: Hover over links in the email (without clicking) to preview the URL. Ensure that the URL matches the expected website address. Watch out for misspellings or strange domain names that resemble popular websites.

3. Look for spelling and grammar errors: Many phishing emails contain spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, or awkward phrasing. Legitimate businesses and organizations typically have professional communication standards.

4. Beware of urgent or threatening language: Phishing emails often use urgency or fear to prompt action. They may claim your account is compromised or that you need to verify personal information immediately. Legitimate entities usually communicate important matters through secure channels rather than email.

5. Verify requests for personal or financial information: Legitimate organizations rarely ask for sensitive information like passwords, credit card numbers, or social security numbers via email. If you’re unsure about the authenticity of an email, contact the company directly through their official website or phone number to verify the request.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to Heather (admin@uulacrosse.org). When in doubt, you can also pick up the phone and call the source to confirm (but don’t use any phone numbers provided in the email, verify the number through the official website or your personal directory). 

A big thank you to everyone who attended our Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition on Sunday! The election results are listed below. Newly elected members will begin their term on June 1st.

Elected Board of Trustees Members:
Ryan Farkas: Secretary (Two Year Term)
Susan McParker: Board Member-at-Large (Two Year Term)
Ingrid Iverson: Board Member-at-Large (Two Year Term)

Elected Nominating Committee Members:
Milo Velimirovic (One Year Term)
Celine Donofrio (One Year Term)
Ryan O’Hern (One Year Term)

If you missed the Annual Meeting, or you just want to read more about what some of our team’s have accomplished in the past year, you can view their Annual Reports online (Click Here).

Important Reminders & Forms

Building Use 

Reservations for meeting spaces must be made through the Congregational Administrator (Click Here for Form) in advance. This includes Team/Committee meetings. 
Before leaving the building you should always:

• Return chairs/tables to their original place if you moved them.
• Close any blinds that you opened. 
• Throw away any trash (use recycling bins when appropriate).
• Wipe down any tables used. 
• Put away and turn off any A/V equipment that was used. 
• Set ventilation system for 2 hours.
• Turn off all lights.
• Check that all doors are locked.

Weekly eNews Submissions

Have important news or an announcement you want included in the eNews? There are TWO easy ways that you can get your information to Heather!

     1. Email Heather directly at admin@uulacrosse.org
     2. Fill out the form at uulacrosse.org/submitnews

Please note that the deadline for each weekly eNews edition is Wednesday at Noon. If you send anything after this deadline, it will appear in next week’s eNews. 

Sunday Service Announcements Submissions

Have an announcement you want to share on Sunday morning? You should submit your announcement to Heather by Sunday morning (preferably before 9 AM). You can email announcements to Heather at admin@uulacrosse.org or use the form above. Depending on how many announcements we have that morning, we may shorten it or include it on the Order of Service.

Expense Reimbursement Requests

Looking for our Expense Reimbursement form? You can find a hardcopy in the office (ask Heather for assistance), and we also have an online version you can use: Online Form.