The following email was sent to several St Philip staff and volunteers with @stphilipvictoria.ca addresses:
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From: Pastor Allen Doerksen <omax45275@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, April 6, 2026 3:22:27 PM
Please let me know if you're open to talk via email. I have a specific idea in mind and was hoping to share the details with you regarding the staff members, I'd really appreciate a prompt response at your earliest convenience.
"Sending you warm Easter wishes and a season filled with new beginnings and fresh hopes"
Kind Regards.
Pastor Allen Doerksen
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Notes:
1) As ever, it's important to check the sender's email address, not just the name.
2) In this case, the subject line is auto-generated to include the recipient's own first name - but that would be a weird subject line for a real email.
3) Critical reading sends up red flags, too: this generic message has no substance at all and really is "phishing" for a response. If the real Fr. Allen wanted to run an idea past someone, he would giev at least some idea of the topic in the initial message!
If your email program includes a 'Report phishing' option, this is worth doing.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca is a good resource for information on the latest frauds and scams.