Financial Crime News 09/03/2023

(August 31) Florida Baptist Convention Staff Not Responsible For $700K Cyberattack: Report | FL

An investigation into a recent cyberattack that cost the Florida Baptist Convention approximately $700,000 has concluded that no staff were responsible for the theft.

The FBC released an update Monday detailing a subcommittee report given to the State Board of Missions at its Aug. 24-25 meeting held at the Baptist Building in Jacksonville.

The subcommittee had worked with state and federal investigators, auditors, and experts in cyber-forensics to determine the source of the online theft that occurred earlier this year.

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(August 30) 16 Car Thefts, Break-Ins In Church Parking Lots In Jeffco Are Under Investigation | Jefferson County, CO

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday it is investigating a string of car break-ins and thefts in church parking lots in the southern part of the county.

Between May 1 and Aug. 29, there were 16 break-ins and thefts at 12 churches that all shared similar characteristics.

The sheriff's office shared a map of the churches where the break-ins happened, while adding that investigators have not confirmed they are all related.

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(August 28) Unlocked Car Stolen From Outside Church: Lakewood Police Blotter | Lakewood, OH

A man called the police department at 1:07 p.m. Aug. 13 to report that his car had been stolen. It had been left unlocked parked outside of Gethsemane Lutheran Church.

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(August 25) South Fulton Church Continual Target Of AC Thieves| South Fulton, GA

Another metro Atlanta church has become a constant target for thieves stealing its air conditioning unit.

So much so that they are on the verge of being dropped by their insurance company.

"This is where God wants us to be," Leslie Waldrep said.

Leslie and her husband Wayne Waldrep are decades-long members of the First Baptist church of Cliftondale in South Fulton.

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(August 23) Report: Suspects Steal Donations From Mailboxes At Multiple Abilene Churches | Abilene, TX

Multiple Abilene churches have been targeted by thieves stealing donations from their mailboxes.
Zion Lutheran Church reports their locked mailbox was broken into overnight Sunday and they say that Holy Family Catholic Church was hit as well.
The donations inside Zion Lutheran’s box were stolen, so they are advising anyone who has mailed something to the church to check their accounts for fraudulent activity and to cancel any pending checks.
Until further notice, they are asking citizens to hand-deliver sensitive mail.

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