SPAM SCAM ALERT - MUST READ NOW

My e-mail last night included this note from the Florida Hospital Credit Union.

PLEASE READ - BANKING E-MAIL SCAM

Many Florida Hospital employees are currently receiving e-mails from fraudulent outside sources stating that their Bank or Credit Union account will be closed if they do not provide personal information such as Social Security Numbers, date of birth, account numbers, addresses, driver's license, etc. THESE E-MAILS ARE NOT LEGITIMATE and are what's known as "Phishing". PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO SUCH E-MAILS, OR PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION THEY ARE REQUESTING.

Florida Hospital Credit Union along with almost all other financial institutions will at no time initiate a request for personal information via e-mail. You can call FH Credit Union, your bank, or your financial institution if you are unsure how to respond to this type of e-mail enquiry, but the best option is to ignore them.

Please look for more information on "Phishing" in the June 30 issue of The Times.

PLEASE READ - BANKING E-MAIL SCAM

Each day we receive numerous "offers" for products and services that are far beyond unbelievable. Like the e-mail promising that "if you forward this to 100 others, Bill Gates will send a free copy of Windows 2006." Or, the promises of an incredible concoction that is guaranteed to make low-fat food taste like full-fat food ---"only available if you respond within 2 hours of opening this e-mail."

The intrusive messages are obnoxious. "Answer this e-mail and receive a free iPod." "Use this cream and enhance the size of _______." "Drink this enhanced water for a month and your torn rotator cuff will be healed." "Give me your SS#, or your bank account will be closed."

Who assumes that we are gullible enough to believe the phishermen?

Who CAN we trust?

Scripture is clear: (Deuteronomy 32:4, Hebrews 6:18, Ephesians 6:14, John 1:14) God is the Rock. He cannot lie. Every one of His messages is trustworthy. He will be faithful forever. He will never threaten to close your bank account. He will never promise the absurd. He will ALWAYS clue you into the cruel motives of the phishermen. Hold onto Him and you will be greatly encouraged...and will not get caught!

Dick Duerksen
Assistant Vice President
Mission development
Florida Hospital