In June this year all members received this email from our District Secretary:
***URGENT***
Hi All,
Clubs and Rotary members be aware than a email scam is currently circulating throughout Rotary circles.
An email purporting to be from a legal firm with an invoice for payment attached.
Should you receive such an email please be wary.
Regards
Gary
A further email advised at least some of us of more details about the scam. I'm sure we all took notice at the time.
Security issues around IT and also in regard to sharing of personal information are becoming increasingly important and while I am not over sensitive to the matter I think a few ideas may be worth sharing. I am not an expert on these things and feel like the article could start a chat to provide for more enlightened people to comment. For that reason I have ticked the 'Enable comments' at the bottom to see if others may have a point of view.
I offer these points:
Let's start with Rotary information.
Using and disclosing of personal information of Rotarians, their family, and their associates
Your / our personal information is confidential. The purpose in collecting personal information from club members is to facilitate the running of the club and contact between members and Rotary.
It is not to be used or disclosed to any other party without their written consent, unless required by law.
Our Club uses a ClubRunner database that integrates with District 9790 and sends some information to RI. A complete privacy policy statement can be accessed online.
"ClubRunner is committed to protecting your personal information and has developed policies and procedures to ensure our compliance with our own Security and Privacy Policy and with applicable International laws.
We also understand your concerns about online security and take reasonable measures to help protect information about you from loss, theft, misuse and unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration and destruction."
Only Rotary Members can access this information and some of that information can only be accessed by you and the Administrator.
Whether we are using online services or printed directories, it is important that we do not pass on details to other parties without permission.
Here are a few tips that I use:
As much as possible when creating an email to multiple people, I use 'blind copy' so I am not circulating a list of email addresses. Even though only the recipients can see the list when this option is not used it is all too easy to inadvertently forward to others.
When emails are sent from ClubRunner, there is an option to provide a list of recipients but this is done as an attachment which is more secure.
If someone asks me for contact details for another person I usually ask if I may forward the inquirer's details so the other person can make the contact.
Promoters fundraisers and sales people sometimes ask for me to provide details of others who may be interested. I don't give that information unless I have asked the other person.
I invite comments.