Oct 14, 2024 | posted by Lily Chavez
If you happen to receive an unexpected call from someone at your place of worship, please be careful before sending money. Scammers often impersonate pastors, rabbis, imams, or bishops. Learn how to identify a scam.
Gift card scams frequently target congregants, with scammers posing as religious leaders to solicit money for fake causes and pressuring you to act quickly. They may request specific gift cards and ask for the card numbers and PINs, effectively stealing your money.
To protect yourself:
- Verify Requests: Contact your place of worship directly using a known phone number to confirm any requests.
- Recognize Scams: Genuine leaders will not ask for gift card numbers.
- Report Scams: If you’ve fallen victim to a scam, contact the gift card issuer for a possible refund.
Share this advice with your community, and encourage anyone who encounters a scam to report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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