2024-08-03, 08:48:42
This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada
with this week's bulletin.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS
1. Phishing attempt being sent to RAC email subscribers
There have been several recent reports from RAC members of phishing attempts by someone purporting to be from Radio Amateurs of Canada or is forwarding a message on their behalf.
For example, today's (Aug 2nd) phishing attempt uses the fake title "Minutes and Announcements 8/2/2024" and states:
"You've received an secure message from Phil A McBride from Radio Amateurs of Canada."
It then instructs recipients to save and open an attachment and then sign in using their own email address. Please do not follow the instructions!
Note: One way to recognize that this is a phishing attempt is to look at the senders email address. In this case it is not from a RAC email address.
Any email claiming to have your @myrac.ca address and password is a scam and should be deleted. Radio Amateurs of Canada will never ask people to ownload files from a third-party site in their email communication.
Always check to see if the sender of a suspicious email has an @rac.ca email address as all RAC officials use @rac.ca. If you are concerned or suspicious always contact the RAC office before opening any files in an email message that appears to come from RAC.
Thank you for continuing to notify us about cybersecurity threats!
https://www.rac.ca/update-on-phishing-attempts-and-cybersecurity-tips/
Alan Griffin, RAC MarCom Director
ONTARIO SECTION NEWS
ITEMS OF INTEREST
2. Paris Olympics Special Event Active Through August 11
Special event station TM67JO is active to celebrate the Paris 2024 Olympic Games which began on Friday 26 July. The operators include F1LFL on SSB, F5PZT using FT8 and FT4, and F5TFW on CW. QSL to F1LFL via the Bureau or directly. For more information about the special event station, which will be operating until the 11 August, visit QRZ.com.
-- RSGB
3. 2024 USA Radio Orienteering Championships
The Southern Michigan Orienteering Club (SMOC) and Radio Clubs across southeastern Michigan invite you to attend the 2024 USA Radio Orienteering Championships held in the Chelsea, Michigan area this October.
No excuses for not coming because there will be a training camp 5-6 Oct and practice days 8-9 Oct to help anyone who is either new or wants to improve skills! We will also have some equipment to rent for those that need it as long as you pre-arrange, so that's not an excuse either!
Competition days will be 10-13 Oct 2024 to include the following race formats:
- Radio Sprint
- Foxoring (Fox-O)
- 144 MHz Classic
- 3.5 MHz Classic
- Search & Rescue (SAR) Team Exhibition
We also have some exciting tourism/cultural outings, a Sat evening awards banquet, and other activities planned.
This event will serve as both the ARRL's USA Radio-O Champs, as well as the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 2 Championship!
We welcome international competitors!
Event website: https://www.radioorienteeringchamps.us
-- QRZ news
4. CANADA WILDFIRES PROVIDE PREPAREDNESS STRATEGIES
Even as they keep an eye in the wildfires threatening the west, the Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services teams have been working on a comprehensive
plan called PACE, for Primary, Alternate, Contingency and Emergency, to address communications across Canada. Emergency disaster specialist for the Maritime Division of the Salvation Army, John Bignell, VE1JMB, told Newsline that the plan includes the critical role hams can play in disaster-response efforts.
Toward that end, the EDS teams are studying IP linked systems such as Yaesu Fusion and Echolink and such technologies as Winlink so that traffic can be passed even when the communication infrastructure has suffered a failure. John told Newsline: "We believe that by internal training and developing relationships with local hams and ham clubs in each region, we can significantly improve our disaster response capabilities."
The Salvation Army EDS teams see this as an opportunity to deliver what could be needed in the future when a more extensive amateur radio involvement may
be needed. Meanwhile, said John, the teams are collaborating with each division to develop a more comprehensive communication plan.
-- John Bignell, VE1JMB via amateur radio newsline
This concludes this week's bulletin. Does anyone require repeats or
clarifications?
Hearing none, This is V_3___ returning the frequency to net control.
Bulletin sent from Official Bulletin Manager VA3PC
with this week's bulletin.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS
1. Phishing attempt being sent to RAC email subscribers
There have been several recent reports from RAC members of phishing attempts by someone purporting to be from Radio Amateurs of Canada or is forwarding a message on their behalf.
For example, today's (Aug 2nd) phishing attempt uses the fake title "Minutes and Announcements 8/2/2024" and states:
"You've received an secure message from Phil A McBride from Radio Amateurs of Canada."
It then instructs recipients to save and open an attachment and then sign in using their own email address. Please do not follow the instructions!
Note: One way to recognize that this is a phishing attempt is to look at the senders email address. In this case it is not from a RAC email address.
Any email claiming to have your @myrac.ca address and password is a scam and should be deleted. Radio Amateurs of Canada will never ask people to ownload files from a third-party site in their email communication.
Always check to see if the sender of a suspicious email has an @rac.ca email address as all RAC officials use @rac.ca. If you are concerned or suspicious always contact the RAC office before opening any files in an email message that appears to come from RAC.
Thank you for continuing to notify us about cybersecurity threats!
https://www.rac.ca/update-on-phishing-attempts-and-cybersecurity-tips/
Alan Griffin, RAC MarCom Director
ONTARIO SECTION NEWS
ITEMS OF INTEREST
2. Paris Olympics Special Event Active Through August 11
Special event station TM67JO is active to celebrate the Paris 2024 Olympic Games which began on Friday 26 July. The operators include F1LFL on SSB, F5PZT using FT8 and FT4, and F5TFW on CW. QSL to F1LFL via the Bureau or directly. For more information about the special event station, which will be operating until the 11 August, visit QRZ.com.
-- RSGB
3. 2024 USA Radio Orienteering Championships
The Southern Michigan Orienteering Club (SMOC) and Radio Clubs across southeastern Michigan invite you to attend the 2024 USA Radio Orienteering Championships held in the Chelsea, Michigan area this October.
No excuses for not coming because there will be a training camp 5-6 Oct and practice days 8-9 Oct to help anyone who is either new or wants to improve skills! We will also have some equipment to rent for those that need it as long as you pre-arrange, so that's not an excuse either!
Competition days will be 10-13 Oct 2024 to include the following race formats:
- Radio Sprint
- Foxoring (Fox-O)
- 144 MHz Classic
- 3.5 MHz Classic
- Search & Rescue (SAR) Team Exhibition
We also have some exciting tourism/cultural outings, a Sat evening awards banquet, and other activities planned.
This event will serve as both the ARRL's USA Radio-O Champs, as well as the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 2 Championship!
We welcome international competitors!
Event website: https://www.radioorienteeringchamps.us
-- QRZ news
4. CANADA WILDFIRES PROVIDE PREPAREDNESS STRATEGIES
Even as they keep an eye in the wildfires threatening the west, the Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services teams have been working on a comprehensive
plan called PACE, for Primary, Alternate, Contingency and Emergency, to address communications across Canada. Emergency disaster specialist for the Maritime Division of the Salvation Army, John Bignell, VE1JMB, told Newsline that the plan includes the critical role hams can play in disaster-response efforts.
Toward that end, the EDS teams are studying IP linked systems such as Yaesu Fusion and Echolink and such technologies as Winlink so that traffic can be passed even when the communication infrastructure has suffered a failure. John told Newsline: "We believe that by internal training and developing relationships with local hams and ham clubs in each region, we can significantly improve our disaster response capabilities."
The Salvation Army EDS teams see this as an opportunity to deliver what could be needed in the future when a more extensive amateur radio involvement may
be needed. Meanwhile, said John, the teams are collaborating with each division to develop a more comprehensive communication plan.
-- John Bignell, VE1JMB via amateur radio newsline
This concludes this week's bulletin. Does anyone require repeats or
clarifications?
Hearing none, This is V_3___ returning the frequency to net control.
Bulletin sent from Official Bulletin Manager VA3PC