Tips for Avoiding Scams – Please Read

Phishing e-mails and texts were sent on April 12 claiming to be from Rev. Jamie Barnett requesting parishioners’ help and/or that the recipient purchase gift cards. These were NOT from The Rev. Jamie Barnett, and she did NOT send these messages. Jamie will NEVER send an e-mail or text requesting that you purchase gift cards. Unfortunately, we do not have any capacity to filter or prevent messages like these. We have reported this incident to the FTC.

If you have already responded to such an email, please notify your bank immediately for assistance in protecting your accounts.

Scammers frequently target churches because of the high level of trust people have in their priest. Only scammers will tell you to buy a gift card, like a Google Play or Apple Card, and give them the numbers off the back of the card. No matter what they say, that’s a scam. No real business or government agency will ever tell you to buy a gift card.

TIPS:

  • Contact Jamie personally first and ask her about it.
  • Slow down. Read the email carefully and be aware of any emotional response you may have – scammers are good at stirring up emotions or giving a sense of urgency.
  • Check the email address. It might be similar, but it will never be [email protected].
  • Do not communicate with the scammer.
  • Let us know so that we can warn others.
  • Do not be ashamed if you are fooled. You are human.

If you have Gmail and receive e-mails like this, select the “Report Spam” or “Report Phishing” button; this will block the sender and report it to Google as a phishing attempt. No matter what e-mail server you use, please delete the message, and report it as junk if you can. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov

In the case of a text,

  • Copy the message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM). This helps your wireless provider spot and block similar messages in the future.
  • Report it on the messaging app you use.
  • Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Our best defense is awareness. We urge you to educate yourself on how these scams work, including this helpful article from the Federal Trade Commission: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/gift-card-scams.

We are so sorry that our parish has been targeted in this way and pray that you and your family will remain safe from exploitation.