Loss of names has resulted in $100K loss in donations this year
Wanderers’ Rest Humane Association in Canastota has had its email account and donor database hacked, causing serious issues for the local animal shelter. While no financial information or documents were stolen or tampered with, all contact information for members and donors have been stolen and removed from the Wanderer’s rest system.
The result of the hack, to date, has been approximately $100,000 loss in donor revenue, said Lewis Carinci, president of the association’s Board of Directors.
Heather Saxton, the director of marketing and communications at Wanderers’ Rest, called the donor database attack “unfortunate and disheartening,” and said the organization has “suffered substantially” because of it by losing funding that makes up the organization’s operating budget.
“We care about our donors and want to be in contact with them,” said Saxon. “The past year we’ve been struggling because of this.”
While the actual hack occurred a few months ago, within the past two weeks, hackers sent an email out to donors, falsely signed under the names of the shelter manager and assistant manager. The email invited everyone to the annual board meeting as an upcoming audit would show how members should not have “faith” in the board. While the culprits did not specify why members should be concerned with the organization or what they’re supposedly hiding, Saxton said the “slanderous” email not only attacks board members and management, but the organization as a whole.
Suspicion of a hack first arose when the organization’s Dropbox, which contained donor information, indicated that outside IP addresses were signing into the network, Saxton said. From there, the intrusion was uncovered.
The Wanderers’ Rest Humane Association, in a recent letter to the editor sent to local newspaper, said they are taking this “cowardly” attack seriously and are working with law enforcement to further investigate the matter, as they believe the hackers are intending to personally attack the board of directors. The organization has vowed to prosecute all those involved.
Over the last year, the shelter has provided care to over 600 animals that have come to the residence. According to its 2017 report, 457 adoptions were made this year at the shelter. As a no-kill shelter, the establishment prides itself on having a 4 percent euthanasia rate, compared to the standard 20 percent rate among other animal shelters, Saxton said. “Our staff truly cares about the animals, and we’re very proud of that percentage,” she said.
Further information about the attack with be discussed on Jan. 16 during the Wanderers’ Rest Humane Association annual board meeting at 7 p.m. at the Village Veterinary Hospital in Canastota. The meeting is open to the public.
Anyone wishing to donate funds to Wanderer’s Rest can do so through its website at wanderersrest.org.
