Strange Email in MAPS Services

Hello,

I recently received a MAPS Services email with a strange email address (otr@tutanota.de). This appears to be an unsafe return address, so I am wondering if this is spam? Every other time I have received a request, the email domain was recognizable. My investigation into this email address shows it is either an IP, untraceable domain, from Germany, or maybe both? The body of the email is not consistent with how MAPS typically processes the types of requests mentioned.

Is the church enacting for untraceable/encrypted emails for privacy? Though that seems strange, as I would imagine the sender would want to be contacted. Or are there steps in place to avoid scams?

Thanks,

mnk3 wrote: Thu Jan 18, 2024 10:39 am - I recently received a MAPS Services email with a strange email address (otr@tutanota.de).
- Every other time I have received a request, the email domain was recognizable.
- The body of the email is not consistent with how MAPS typically processes the types of requests mentioned.

Sounds like red flags to me. Any attachment or link that you were directed to click?

I'm not familiar with MAPS Services-- but if you believe the email was sent using church email servers would recommend notifying the Church so they can promptly investigate. If their resources get flagged as a SPAM source, Send Message and other email outgoing email featues will quickly break again.

I'm guessing here, but I think he's referring to the email created when you click "Send a Message" in the Meetinghouse Locator. It's to send a message to the bishop of the selected ward. (It used to have the bishop's phone number, but that seems to have been removed in the past couple of months.)

I notice there's an checkbox option "Yes, I'm willing to be contacted regarding this message." The format of the mail may differ depending on if that checkbox is clicked (which then prompts the submitter for a email address). The email should have the user's email address in the "reply to" field, and not forging a "From" (as that may cause the message to be considered spam).

In trying to visit tutanota.de, I find an email service that has just changed their domain to tuta.com.

After researching and finding this, I suspect the email is valid. The different format is because this particular submitter passed along contact information when the prior ones did not.