Have you received text messages, emails, or messages through Facebook messenger from someone claiming to be your pastor and asking for money or gift cards, indicating it’s an emergency? Don’t give. It’s not your pastor. It’s a scam.
Many parishioners of the Diocese of Grand Rapids have been targeted by these fraudsters and it’s not just happening in West Michigan. The Diocese of Austin, Texas; the Diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and the Archdiocese of Miami, Florida and others also have reported the scam and the Texas attorney general issued a consumer alert about it. The alert indicates that the scammers are probably using information found on church websites or in online parish bulletins to trick parish members into parting with their cash. Fraudsters using Facebook messenger have even gone so far as to include a priest’s profile picture, captured from Facebook or another online source, to make their correspondence appear more authentic.
The Archdiocese of Miami reports, “This scam is probably a variation on others: texts and robocalls purportedly from the IRS threatening the recipient with jail time and fines for not paying back taxes, or from utilities threatening to cut off electricity or phone service for non-payment.”
Don’t fall for it! Here’s what to know and do:
- First, your pastor or associate pastor will never contact a parishioner directly with an emergency request for cash or gift cards. Messages asking parishioners to help fulfill a need would come through the parish’s or the diocese’s official communication channels or be accomplished through a collection approved by the diocese. If you’re not sure about a text or email you’ve received, do not engage or respond and call your parish office right away to notify a staff member. In addition, please note that neither your parish nor the diocese will ever sell or give away parishioners’ personal information.
- Often times with text messages, a scam can be identified by looking at the phone number. If the area code is not local, it’s likely a scam.
- If you are contacted by a scammer, report it to your parish or the diocese. If you can, capture screen shots of the correspondence on your phone or laptop and email those to the parish or the diocese. A member of the parish or diocesan staff can then notify the pastor/associate pastor.
- File a report through the Federal Trade Commission’s Complaint Assistant which helps the FTC detect patterns of fraud and abuse.
- If you suspect that your Facebook account has been hacked, CBS News offers these tips on how to tell if your account’s been hacked and what to do about it, and Facebook offers these action steps for hacked and fake accounts.
Other resources for reporting fraud and scams
How to report things on Facebook
Scams and Safety (FBI)
Michigan State Police Fraud Investigation Section
5 Signs of a Scam (from the Texas Attorney General’s Office)
If you spot any of these tactics, stop and walk away. You’re probably being scammed.
They contacted you
When you contact a business, you know who’s on the other end of the line. But when someone contacts you first, you can’t be certain they’re telling the truth. You don’t know if they are whom they say they are. And remember, email addresses and caller ID information can be faked.
They dangle bait—usually money
Let’s face it: People simply don’t give away large sums of money easily. If someone dangles bait in front of you—a big prize, a shopping spree, an easy loan — for nothing, they’re probably lying.
They want your personal information
Anytime anyone asks for your personal information — bank accounts, social security number, etc. — you should be on alert. Don’t give it away quickly or easily, especially to someone you don’t know. You may become a victim of identity theft.
You have to pay them first
If someone offers you a prize, debt relief, or employment — but first you have to pay an upfront fee to get it —you’re probably being scammed.
You have to wire money or send gift cards
If you’re about to wire money or send gift cards to someone in order to receive a prize, or pay off a debt collector that contacts you … STOP! This may be a scammer trying to take your money.
Additional resources
Scammers pose as pastors in email, ask faithful to buy gift cards (National Catholic Reporter, May 2019)
