Targeting Jewish Institutions

We have learned about an internet scam that has now targeted synagogue members. We have heard specifically from B’nai Jeshurun in New York City and Adath Jeshurun in Louisville, Kentucky – and it’s likely many other synagogues have been hit as well.

This is what has happened. Through Facebook's email and chat function, people have been getting requests for money from people they think they know but who in fact are imposters who have hijacked their friends' Facebook identities.

The victims are told that their friends have been robbed in London and stuck there without cash or cell phones. They’ve been asked to send money. DO NOT SEND MONEY.

We know this threat is real. It actually happened to a United Synagogue employee.

The FBI is aware of this phishing scam and working with the victims.

For more information, see this link:

www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/  

Kind regards,

Martin S. Kunoff
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Director, Dept. of Information Technology
E-mail: kunoff@uscj.org
Website: www.uscj.org
Phone: 212-533-7800 ext.1134
Direct: 646-519-9280