When a Message from Your Priest.....Is NOT from Your Priest!

When a Message from Your Priest...

“Hello. I need you to do me a favor. Let me know if you’re available. Blessings, Fr. Joe”

What would you do if you received this message as an email from me? Naturally, most of us want to help our parish - especially when we’re singled out to be asked by a trusted leader - so you’d probably send a reply asking what was needed. What if this request came to your cell phone as a text message? Some might think it strange that their priest is reaching out via text, but if you gave us your cell phone number at some point, you might send a text in reply. But what if that message...
...Is NOT from Your Priest!

From time to time, staff and parishioners receive such messages in an email that look like they come from my real email address ([email protected]), but they used a false address (such as [email protected]) - see the difference? Those who replied were asked to buy gift cards (claiming I was busy) and I would pay them back. Requests to buy gift cards are usually a scam, but even if you stop replying, they might send a follow-up message that leaves you feeling guilty for not responding. The scammer on the other end is trying to close the deal, thinking they have lured someone into their trap. Something similar once happened with Deacon Jim’s email, only that scammer found a way to use his actual, real email address. More recently, some have sent text messages to parishioners’ phones claiming to be me, too... the scams keep evolving!

We looked into the problem and I want to share the following important points with you. 1.) This is a widespread problem with criminals impersonating all kinds of people, including clergy to take advantage of your trust of spiritual leaders. 2.) We are not able to stop or prevent these scams from happening - the best protection is educating everyone to be cautious and savvy. 3.) We should always be suspicious when a message doesn’t “sound right,” like the wording the person we know would use, or if the message is unusually brief or general. 4.) Check the address carefully (or the phone number for texts), comparing it with the emails in the bulletin or in your saved contact information. Many email services allow you to click on the sender’s name (or something near it) to see if the message is securely encrypted and if the “reply to” address is the same as the sender’s. 5.) When in doubt, contact the sender by a different means rather than replying directly (if they emailed, call them; if they texted, call or send an email). This was how parishioners learned it was not me or another parish leader.

Electronic communication is not an inherently bad thing - it allows us to stay in touch in our busy lives, often across many miles! Like any tool, though, it can be used for good or for evil. Let’s help each other to be cautious and savvy as we communicate, so that others don’t take advantage of the important trust we have in each other!


September 13, 2020 Bulletin Column (reprint) - Scammers Spoof Clergy E-mails & Texts (also reprinted in Jan 2022, Jan 2023, June 2023)