Why this Page Exists
We have been made aware of the reality that people have been attempting to impersonate Arizona Mission Network of Southern Baptists staff members in order to trick churches into giving away money or sensitive information. Below we have provided information to help you identify suspicious emails or messages. If you receive a suspicious email or message claiming to be from the AZMN, please call our office.
Our Commitment to Online Safety
The AZMN is committed to being faithful stewards of all God has entrusted to us. In order to help protect you and us from people with malicious intent, here are the practices we put in place to honor that commitment.
Official Communications Channels
We will only contact you through either a phone call or an email. We will only use email addresses associated with the AZMN or one of our partner ministries.
While we do use social media and email marketing tools to share news and stories, we will never use these methods to directly message you and ask for information or money.
Asking for Money
The AZMN funds its ministries through the Cooperative Program. We also have three special offerings a year that our churches give to: Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, Arizona Mission Offering, and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Churches and individuals can give online from our website using the GIVE button on the side of the main menu. We handle our online giving through RebelGive, which means that all financial information from those transactions stays on their secure servers. Churches and individuals can also give by mailing a check to the AZMN office.
The AZMN will never ask you to donate by sending cash, initiating a wire transfer, sending gift cards or pictures of gift cards, or using another online system to move funds. Additionally, we will never ask you to be secretive or discreet about giving, and we will not ask for a specific amount for a specific cause.
Event Fees
As part of the ministries of the AZMN, sometimes events are conducted that have a registration fee. These registration fees will be made known to you before you submit your information for registration. Depending on the scope of the event, we will either process online payments through RebelGive or SBC workspace using Authorize.Net. You can also pay for registration fees by mailing a check to the AZMN office.
The AZMN will never ask you to pay fees by sending cash, initiating a wire transfer, sending gift cards or pictures of gift cards, or using another online system to move funds.
Collecting Sensitive Information
The AZMN uses forms on this website to occasionally collect sensitive information from churches and individuals to assess ministry needs and register for events. We will never ask you to submit your sensitive information on another website unless it is for event registration on that event’s website.
Time Sensitive Messages
Sometimes the AZMN will call or email you and need a quick response to a question or decision. We will always clearly identify what we are asking, and we will always clearly identify any deadlines for our requests.
We will never send you a time sensitive message that requires you give sensitive information, or that asks for money.
Email Security Best Practices
Email systems are designed to filter out suspicious emails, and they do a great job of it. Occasionally, suspicious email will make it through to your inbox. It can be difficult sometimes to identify a suspicious email from someone you know, but here are some signs to look for.
Beware of emails insisting on immediate action
Emails that require an urgent response are used to make you to think quickly instead of clearly. This emails will sometimes include threats of negative consequences as way to get you emotional so that you do not critically evaluate the sender of the email.
Beware of emails containing bad spelling and grammar
Most email systems include a basic spell check and grammar check. Receiving an email from any professional organization that has multiple misspellings or bad grammar should cause to stop and carefully check the email before responding.
Beware of emails with unfamiliar word choice
When you receive an email from someone you know, but it doesn't sound like them because of the words used in that email, then its probably not them. For example, If you receive an email from someone who usually opens with 'Hey,' but they instead open with 'Dear,' then you should be cautious of that email.
Beware of emails from a different email address
Anytime you read an email, you should check the email address of the sender to make sure that is the same as emails they previously sent you. If you are receiving an email from an unfamiliar email address, you should take the time to confirm with the person whether the new email address is trustworthy.
Beware of emails with suspicious or inconsistent links
If you are sent an email with link to a website, you can check where the link goes by hovering over the link with your mouse. If the link goes to somewhere different that it says it should, do not click it. If your unsure of if a link is safe, then be cautious and don't click it.
Beware of emails with suspicious files attached
When you receive an email with a file that you don't recognize, do not download the file, because it may contain a virus. There are numerous cloud-based file sharing services, such as Dropbox, One Drive and Google Drive, that you can use to share files. These services often have a free version that includes a virus scanner that will check files before you download the file. These tools are great ways to keep you and your computer safe.
Beware of emails asking for sensitive information
Any email that asks for login information, payment information, or other private information should be dealt with carefully. Additionally, any email with a link to a website that asks for this information should also raise suspicion.