NJOHSP Increases State’s Nonprofit Target-Hardening Grant Funding to $100K; Fraudulent Payment Receipts Continue to Target Users; New Jersey Man Indicted for Attacking Anti-Racism Concert Crowd

The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness announced Aug. 16 an increase in the New Jersey Nonprofit Security Grant Program’s maximum target-hardening equipment allocations from $50,000 to $100,000 as a result of Governor Phil Murphy’s recent commitment to increase program funding. “Across our nation, we have witnessed a troubling increase of threats and a rising tide of violence against faith-based communities,” said Governor Murphy. “We recognize that mitigation and preparedness are imperative in our efforts to ensure the security of our faith-based communities and houses of worship. This funding will allow our residents to continue to worship with greater peace of mind knowing that New Jersey is committed to their safety.” Governor Murphy’s increase of $2 million to the grant program, which NJOHSP administers annually to nonprofit organizations that can demonstrate a high risk for a terrorist attack, made the additional target-hardening funding possible for the 2023-2024 fiscal year grant cycle. This recent increase brings the total amount of available NJ NSGP funding to $7 million during the upcoming cycle, which NJOHSP anticipates opening to applicants this fall. “Governor Murphy’s commitment to protecting one of the state’s most vulnerable communities against violence is commendable,” said NJOHSP Director Laurie Doran. “NJOHSP stands ready to support this latest initiative as we’ve witnessed extremists throughout the country continue to target houses of worship. While we cannot stop every attack, we’ve found that target-hardening measures largely help deter threat actors and delay intruders from gaining access.” To date, NJOHSP has awarded approximately $11.8 million to successful grant recipients through the program. Read the full NJOHSP press release for additional information.

Users continue to receive emails referencing payment receipts for anti-virus solutions they did not purchase. Threat actors instruct users to contact the company via the included phone number to manage or cancel their subscription. Those who call the “cancellation department” will likely be asked to verify their payment card or banking account information in order to cancel their subscription and receive a refund. If provided, the threat actors behind the phishing campaign steal the user’s financial information, which can be used to pilfer funds and make fraudulent purchases. The New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell advises users to refrain from initiating contact in response to unsolicited or unexpected emails and, instead, call the referenced organization using the phone number on their official website to dispute charges. NJCCIC also recommends users avoid providing bank account or payment card information by telephone or email to unverified entities. Read the full Cyber Threat Highlight on the NJCCIC website.

A state grand jury indicted a white racially motivated extremist Aug. 16 for allegedly throwing smoke bombs into a crowd and attempting to pepper spray individuals attending a Jan. 27 anti-racism concert at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Asbury Park, New Jersey. According to the indictment, Nicholas Mucci, 28, of Toms River, New Jersey, wore a black face mask and allegedly yelled, “White lives matter, too,” threw three smoke bombs into the crowd and then drove away. The suspect returned an hour later, exited his vehicle and, again, shouted, “White lives matter.” Mucci tried to pepper spray a few concertgoers, who were in the parking lot, and then fled the scene. Investigators, from the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness and the Division of Criminal Justice, identified Mucci as the suspect after license plate readers placed Mucci’s vehicle in the area around the time of the concert. During a search of Mucci’s home and vehicle, investigators uncovered an AR-style rifle, several large-capacity ammunition magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and white nationalist propaganda.