NJOHSP, Congressional Office to Host Houses of Worship Security Seminar; Impersonation Scams Continue; Pennsylvania Man Arrested for Attempting to Transport Explosives on Airplane

As part of its ongoing outreach efforts to faith-based organizations, the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, in conjunction with the Office of U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, is offering a Houses of Worship Security Program March 14 in Burlington County. The program features presentations from federal, State and local security and public safety officials, including active shooter response training, grant guidance for nonprofit religious organizations and facilities and information about federal Department of Homeland Security and FEMA resources. NJOHSP administers a grant program for those nonprofit organizations at greatest risk of a terrorist attack to hire security personnel and purchase target-hardening equipment. Religious leaders, houses of worship safety and security coordinators and members of all faiths and denominations are welcome to attend. Interested parties must register prior to the seminar, which will take place at Rowan College at Burlington County, 900 College Circle, Mount Laurel, New Jersey, in the Votta Hall Auditorium, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, email training@njohsp.gov.

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Grant Resources | Training and Exercise

The NJCCIC continues to receive reports of impersonation scams in which threat actors pose as trusted sources to collect sensitive information or funds. In several recent SMiShing and vishing campaigns, threat actors impersonated PNC Bank. The messages claimed to be alert notifications for suspicious account activity or fraud, creating a sense of urgency to convince targets to call the phone number provided and disclose personally identifiable information, such as Social Security numbers. Other campaigns involved threat actors impersonating Amazon and several government agencies to convince targets their Social Security numbers had been used to set up bank accounts involved with illegal activity. Victims were told their assets had been frozen by the U.S. government and instructed to wire funds to regain access to their accounts. The NJCCIC advises users to exercise caution with communications from known senders and refrain from responding to unsolicited communications, clicking links or opening attachments. If unsure of the legitimacy of a message, contact the sender using an alternate means of communication before taking action. If a member of the public suspects their personally identifiable information has been compromised, please review NJCCIC’s Identity Theft and Compromised PII report for additional recommendations and resources, including information regarding credit freezes and enabling multifactor authentication on accounts. Activity may also be reported directly to the NJCCIC.

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Incident Reporting | NJCCIC Membership

The FBI arrested a Pennsylvania man for allegedly attempting to transport explosives on a flight travelling from Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown to Orlando, Florida, Feb. 27, media outlets reported. Surveillance video shows the suspect, Marc Muffley, 40, of Lansford, arriving at the airport with two pieces of luggage, one of which triggered an alarm during a security screening. Transportation Security Administration officers opened the luggage and found a “circular compound approximately three inches in diameter, wrapped in a wax-like paper and clear plastic wrap hidden in the lining of the baggage, among other items,” according to court documents. TSA contacted the FBI agents, who later arrested Muffley at his home. Investigators said the device contained powder consistent with a commercial grade firework and had two fuses that could quickly ignite. Muffley’s bag also contained a can of butane, a lighter, a pipe with white powder residue, a wireless drill with cordless batteries and two circuit breakers taped together with black tape. He faces federal charges of possessing an explosive in an airport and possessing or attempting to place an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft.