Phishing Awareness: Please Use Caution with Suspicious Emails

Please use caution when responding to emails that appear to come from Scouting America or the Black Swamp Area Council. There have been at least two emails recently sent in the name of a council Scouter.

Always know some emails may be fraudulent and designed to trick you into sharing personal information or clicking harmful links.

Common phishing warning signs include:

• Urgency or Threats: Messages claiming, “Immediate Action Required,”” “Account Suspended,” or similar language meant to create panic.
• Requests for Personal or Financial Information: Legitimate organizations do not ask for passwords, Social Security numbers, or payment details via email.
• Suspicious Senders or Links: Email addresses that don’t match the official domain or links that point to unfamiliar or shortened URLs.
• Unexpected Attachments: Attachments you were not expecting, especially file types such as .zip, .pdf, .js, or .iso.
• Poor Grammar or Spelling: Errors that suggest the message is not from a professional organization.
• Offers That Seem Too Good to Be True: Unexpected prizes, refunds, or lottery winnings.

What you should do:

• Do not click on links or open attachments in suspicious emails.
• Verify independently by going directly to the organization’s official website (type the address yourself) or contacting them through a known, trusted method.
• Report and delete the message. If applicable, forward suspicious emails to your IT department before deleting them.

Staying alert helps protect both you and our organization. Thank you for your attention and cooperation.